diff -r 3ef8a628853d src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c
--- a/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c	Fri Apr 05 08:15:01 2019 -0700
+++ b/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c	Fri Apr 05 22:07:41 2019 +0200
@@ -143,8 +143,23 @@
 Android_PumpEvents_NonBlocking(_THIS)
 {
     SDL_VideoData *videodata = (SDL_VideoData *)_this->driverdata;
+    static int backup_context;
 
     if (videodata->isPaused) {
+
+        if (backup_context) {
+
+            SDL_LockMutex(Android_ActivityMutex);
+            android_egl_context_backup(Android_Window);
+            SDL_UnlockMutex(Android_ActivityMutex);
+
+            ANDROIDAUDIO_PauseDevices();
+            openslES_PauseDevices();
+
+            backup_context = 0;
+        }
+
+
         if (SDL_SemTryWait(Android_ResumeSem) == 0) {
 
             videodata->isPaused = 0;
@@ -165,16 +180,18 @@
             }
         }
     } else {
-        if (SDL_SemTryWait(Android_PauseSem) == 0) {
-
-            SDL_LockMutex(Android_ActivityMutex);
-            android_egl_context_backup(Android_Window);
-            SDL_UnlockMutex(Android_ActivityMutex);
-
-            ANDROIDAUDIO_PauseDevices();
-            openslES_PauseDevices();
-
-            videodata->isPaused = 1;
+        if (videodata->isPausing || SDL_SemTryWait(Android_PauseSem) == 0) {
+            /* We've been signaled to pause (potentially several times), but before we block ourselves,
+             * we need to make sure that the very last event (of the first pause sequence, if several)
+             * has reached the app */
+            if (SDL_NumberOfEvents(SDL_APP_DIDENTERBACKGROUND) > SDL_SemValue(Android_PauseSem)) {
+                videodata->isPausing = 1;
+            }
+            else {
+                videodata->isPausing = 0;
+                videodata->isPaused = 1;
+                backup_context = 1;
+            }
         }
     }
 }