diff --git a/shared-module/busdisplay/BusDisplay.c b/shared-module/busdisplay/BusDisplay.c
index a4652324c1e4f..6ef1c4c7f66ce 100644
--- a/shared-module/busdisplay/BusDisplay.c
+++ b/shared-module/busdisplay/BusDisplay.c
@@ -313,7 +313,11 @@ static void _refresh_display(busdisplay_busdisplay_obj_t *self) {
         // A refresh on this bus is already in progress.  Try next display.
         return;
     }
-    displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core);
+    if (!displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core)) {
+        // Refresh for this display already in progress.
+        return;
+    }
+
     const displayio_area_t *current_area = _get_refresh_areas(self);
     while (current_area != NULL) {
         _refresh_area(self, current_area);
diff --git a/shared-module/epaperdisplay/EPaperDisplay.c b/shared-module/epaperdisplay/EPaperDisplay.c
index 556db6ae22002..655ae10307155 100644
--- a/shared-module/epaperdisplay/EPaperDisplay.c
+++ b/shared-module/epaperdisplay/EPaperDisplay.c
@@ -191,6 +191,10 @@ static void epaperdisplay_epaperdisplay_start_refresh(epaperdisplay_epaperdispla
         // Can't acquire display bus; skip updating this display. Try next display.
         return;
     }
+    if (!displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core)) {
+        // Refresh on this display already in progress.
+        return;
+    }
 
     // run start sequence
     self->bus.bus_reset(self->bus.bus);
@@ -201,7 +205,6 @@ static void epaperdisplay_epaperdisplay_start_refresh(epaperdisplay_epaperdispla
     if (mp_hal_is_interrupted()) {
         return;
     }
-    displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core);
 }
 
 uint32_t common_hal_epaperdisplay_epaperdisplay_get_time_to_refresh(epaperdisplay_epaperdisplay_obj_t *self) {
diff --git a/shared-module/framebufferio/FramebufferDisplay.c b/shared-module/framebufferio/FramebufferDisplay.c
index 4ba2b1325815c..8116f4b0347cb 100644
--- a/shared-module/framebufferio/FramebufferDisplay.c
+++ b/shared-module/framebufferio/FramebufferDisplay.c
@@ -217,7 +217,10 @@ static void _refresh_display(framebufferio_framebufferdisplay_obj_t *self) {
     if (!self->bufinfo.buf) {
         return;
     }
-    displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core);
+    if (!displayio_display_core_start_refresh(&self->core)) {
+        // Refresh on this display already in progress.
+        return;
+    }
     const displayio_area_t *current_area = _get_refresh_areas(self);
     if (current_area) {
         bool transposed = (self->core.rotation == 90 || self->core.rotation == 270);