diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
index 326bf9dc..8bc0dcb3 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
@@ -118,6 +118,8 @@ GLuint CHyprOpenGLImpl::compileShader(const GLuint& type, std::string src, bool
 void CHyprOpenGLImpl::begin(CMonitor* pMonitor, CRegion* pDamage, bool fake) {
     m_RenderData.pMonitor = pMonitor;
 
+    static auto* const PBLUR = &g_pConfigManager->getConfigValuePtr("decoration:blur:enabled")->intValue;
+
     TRACY_GPU_ZONE("RenderBegin");
 
     glViewport(0, 0, pMonitor->vecPixelSize.x, pMonitor->vecPixelSize.y);
@@ -160,7 +162,8 @@ void CHyprOpenGLImpl::begin(CMonitor* pMonitor, CRegion* pDamage, bool fake) {
 
     const auto PRBO = g_pHyprRenderer->getCurrentRBO();
 
-    if (m_sFinalScreenShader.program > 0 || m_bFakeFrame || m_RenderData.mouseZoomFactor != 1.0 || pMonitor->vecPixelSize != PRBO->getFB()->m_vSize) {
+    if (m_sFinalScreenShader.program > 0 || m_bFakeFrame || m_RenderData.mouseZoomFactor != 1.0 || pMonitor->vecPixelSize != PRBO->getFB()->m_vSize ||
+        *PBLUR != 0 /* TODO: revisit when possible */) {
         // we have to offload
         // bind the primary Hypr Framebuffer
         m_RenderData.pCurrentMonData->offloadFB.bind();
diff --git a/src/render/Renderer.cpp b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
index dbc0e160..88b6a696 100644
--- a/src/render/Renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
@@ -1063,7 +1063,14 @@ void CHyprRenderer::renderMonitor(CMonitor* pMonitor) {
         g_pHyprOpenGL->m_RenderData.useNearestNeighbor = false;
     }
 
-    beginRender(pMonitor, damage, RENDER_MODE_NORMAL);
+    if (!beginRender(pMonitor, damage, RENDER_MODE_NORMAL)) {
+        Debug::log(ERR, "renderer: couldn't beginRender()!");
+
+        if (UNLOCK_SC)
+            wlr_output_lock_software_cursors(pMonitor->output, false);
+
+        return;
+    }
 
     EMIT_HOOK_EVENT("render", RENDER_BEGIN);