diff --git a/runtime/src/gpu.c b/runtime/src/gpu.c
index 4a3bba83..4e4eeea2 100644
--- a/runtime/src/gpu.c
+++ b/runtime/src/gpu.c
@@ -7886,7 +7886,7 @@ static int gpu_snap_emit(PstW *w) {
     WI(vram_read_active); WH(vram_read_x); WH(vram_read_y); WH(vram_read_w); WH(vram_read_h);
     WH(vram_read_col); WH(vram_read_row);
     /* Depth24 present helpers (MotK FMV) — must resume with upload span. */
-    WU(s_d24_upload_x1); WI(s_d24_present_hold | (s_d24_present_skip ? 0x100 : 0));
+    WU(s_d24_upload_x1); WI(s_d24_present_hold | 0x200 | (s_d24_present_skip ? 0x100 : 0));
     WU(s_d24_prev_disp_h);
 #undef WU
 #undef WI
@@ -7921,9 +7921,12 @@ static int gpu_snap_parse(PstR *r) {
     RI(vram_read_active); RH(vram_read_x); RH(vram_read_y); RH(vram_read_w); RH(vram_read_h);
     RH(vram_read_col); RH(vram_read_row);
     RU(s_d24_upload_x1); RI(s_d24_present_hold); RU(s_d24_prev_disp_h);
-    /* Bit 8: the latest VBlank was held. Older snaps lack it; a positive
-     * count after a VBlank implies the VBlank was held. */
-    s_d24_present_skip = (s_d24_present_hold & 0x100) || (s_d24_present_hold & 0xFF) > 0;
+    /* Bit 9 marks an explicit skip flag (bit 8). GP1 can arm a positive
+     * count before VBlank, when skip is still false: that state must round
+     * trip exactly. Older snaps without the marker infer skip from count. */
+    s_d24_present_skip = (s_d24_present_hold & 0x200)
+        ? (s_d24_present_hold & 0x100) != 0
+        : (s_d24_present_hold & 0x100) || (s_d24_present_hold & 0xFF) > 0;
     s_d24_present_hold &= 0xFF;
 #undef RU
 #undef RI
diff --git a/runtime/tests/test_depth24_present_hold_exec.c b/runtime/tests/test_depth24_present_hold_exec.c
index f8cc4b40..c9c44a4d 100644
--- a/runtime/tests/test_depth24_present_hold_exec.c
+++ b/runtime/tests/test_depth24_present_hold_exec.c
@@ -312,7 +312,23 @@ static void check_rollback_and_disk(void) {
     assert(r == live[RETARGET_1 + 3].presented && h == live[RETARGET_1 + 3].frame_hash);
 }
 
+static void check_pre_vblank_snapshot(void) {
+    reset_gpu();
+    for (int f = 0; f < RETARGET_1; f++) { guest_frame(f); gpu_vblank_tick(); }
+    guest_frame(RETARGET_1); /* GP1 arms a count before the first held VBlank. */
+    assert(s_d24_present_hold == 3 && s_d24_present_skip == 0);
+    const uint32_t n = gpu_snapshot_bytes();
+    uint8_t *snap = (uint8_t *)malloc(n);
+    assert(snap);
+    gpu_snapshot_write(snap);
+    s_d24_present_hold = s_d24_present_skip = 0;
+    assert(gpu_snapshot_read(snap, n));
+    assert(s_d24_present_hold == 3 && s_d24_present_skip == 0);
+    free(snap);
+}
+
 int main(void) {
+    check_pre_vblank_snapshot();
     check_policies_agree();
     check_hold_is_needed();
     check_rollback_and_disk();