diff --git a/osu.Game/Graphics/Backgrounds/Background.cs b/osu.Game/Graphics/Backgrounds/Background.cs
index 526b3da8a6..d13475189d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Graphics/Backgrounds/Background.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Graphics/Backgrounds/Background.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Backgrounds
     /// </summary>
     public class Background : CompositeDrawable
     {
-        public Sprite Sprite;
+        public readonly Sprite Sprite;
 
         private readonly string textureName;
 
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Backgrounds
         /// <returns>A <see cref="TransformSequence{T}"/> to which further transforms can be added.</returns>
         public void BlurTo(Vector2 newBlurSigma, double duration = 0, Easing easing = Easing.None)
         {
-            if (bufferedContainer == null)
+            if (bufferedContainer == null && newBlurSigma != Vector2.Zero)
             {
                 RemoveInternal(Sprite);
 
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Graphics.Backgrounds
                 });
             }
 
-            bufferedContainer.BlurTo(newBlurSigma, duration, easing);
+            bufferedContainer?.BlurTo(newBlurSigma, duration, easing);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Backgrounds/BackgroundScreenBeatmap.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Backgrounds/BackgroundScreenBeatmap.cs
index 08f1881038..5225740d0b 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Backgrounds/BackgroundScreenBeatmap.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Backgrounds/BackgroundScreenBeatmap.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
+// Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
 // See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
 
 using System;
@@ -168,6 +168,12 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Backgrounds
             private void load(OsuConfigManager config)
             {
                 userBlurLevel = config.GetBindable<double>(OsuSetting.BlurLevel);
+            }
+
+            protected override void LoadComplete()
+            {
+                base.LoadComplete();
+
                 userBlurLevel.ValueChanged += _ => UpdateVisuals();
                 BlurAmount.ValueChanged += _ => UpdateVisuals();
             }