diff --git a/src/intermission/intermission.cpp b/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
index 1287f93cc..0c75575cd 100644
--- a/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
+++ b/src/intermission/intermission.cpp
@@ -110,8 +110,11 @@ void DIntermissionScreen::Init(FIntermissionAction *desc, bool first)
 	{
 		texname = GStrings[texname+1];
 	}
-	mBackground = TexMan.CheckForTexture(texname, FTexture::TEX_MiscPatch);
-	mFlatfill = desc->mFlatfill;
+	if (texname[0] != 0)
+	{
+		mBackground = TexMan.CheckForTexture(texname, FTexture::TEX_MiscPatch);
+		mFlatfill = desc->mFlatfill;
+	}
 	S_Sound (CHAN_VOICE | CHAN_UI, desc->mSound, 1.0f, ATTN_NONE);
 	if (desc->mPalette.IsNotEmpty() && (lumpnum = Wads.CheckNumForFullName(desc->mPalette, true)) > 0)
 	{
diff --git a/src/intermission/intermission_parse.cpp b/src/intermission/intermission_parse.cpp
index bf6ae0ddd..183314cd7 100644
--- a/src/intermission/intermission_parse.cpp
+++ b/src/intermission/intermission_parse.cpp
@@ -833,7 +833,15 @@ void F_StartFinale (const char *music, int musicorder, int cdtrack, unsigned int
 			textscreen->mText << '$' << text;
 		}
 		textscreen->mTextDelay = 10;
-		textscreen->mBackground = flat;
+		if (flat != NULL && *flat != 0)
+		{
+			textscreen->mBackground = flat;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// force a black screen if no texture is set.
+			textscreen->mBackground = "-";
+		}
 		textscreen->mFlatfill = !finalePic;
 
 		if (music != NULL && *music != 0)