diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
index 2aa3e8fdd7727..f1d05855fce3b 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/screens/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ class NewGameScreen(
     }
 
     private fun checkConnectionToMultiplayerServer(): Boolean {
+        Gdx.input.inputProcessor = null // To avoid ANRs
         return try {
             val multiplayerServer = UncivGame.Current.settings.multiplayer.server
             val u =  URL(if (Multiplayer.usesDropbox()) "https://content.dropboxapi.com" else multiplayerServer)
@@ -288,6 +289,9 @@ class NewGameScreen(
         } catch(_: Throwable) {
             false
         }
+        finally {
+            Gdx.input.inputProcessor = stage
+        }
     }
 
     private suspend fun startNewGame() = coroutineScope {