diff --git a/src/video/SDL_sysvideo.h b/src/video/SDL_sysvideo.h
index 7df06da787..5eb95c3cfa 100644
--- a/src/video/SDL_sysvideo.h
+++ b/src/video/SDL_sysvideo.h
@@ -447,6 +447,7 @@ typedef struct VideoBootStrap
     const char *name;
     const char *desc;
     SDL_VideoDevice *(*create)(void);
+    int (*ShowMessageBox)(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int *buttonid);  /* can be done without initializing backend! */
 } VideoBootStrap;
 
 /* Not all of these are available in a given build. Use #ifdefs, etc. */
diff --git a/src/video/SDL_video.c b/src/video/SDL_video.c
index 0f5f59f6e4..be6f8a857f 100644
--- a/src/video/SDL_video.c
+++ b/src/video/SDL_video.c
@@ -4893,69 +4893,37 @@ int SDL_ShowMessageBox(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int *buttonid)
 
     if (_this && _this->ShowMessageBox) {
         retval = _this->ShowMessageBox(_this, messageboxdata, buttonid);
+    } else {
+        /* It's completely fine to call this function before video is initialized */
+        const char *driver_name = SDL_GetHint(SDL_HINT_VIDEO_DRIVER);
+        if (driver_name && *driver_name != 0) {
+            const char *driver_attempt = driver_name;
+            while (driver_attempt && (*driver_attempt != 0) && (retval == -1)) {
+                const char *driver_attempt_end = SDL_strchr(driver_attempt, ',');
+                size_t driver_attempt_len = (driver_attempt_end) ? (driver_attempt_end - driver_attempt)
+                                                                     : SDL_strlen(driver_attempt);
+                for (int i = 0; bootstrap[i]; ++i) {
+                    if (bootstrap[i]->ShowMessageBox && (driver_attempt_len == SDL_strlen(bootstrap[i]->name)) &&
+                        (SDL_strncasecmp(bootstrap[i]->name, driver_attempt, driver_attempt_len) == 0)) {
+                        if (bootstrap[i]->ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
+                            retval = 0;
+                        }
+                        break;
+                    }
+                }
+
+                driver_attempt = (driver_attempt_end) ? (driver_attempt_end + 1) : NULL;
+            }
+        } else {
+            for (int i = 0; bootstrap[i]; ++i) {
+                if (bootstrap[i]->ShowMessageBox && bootstrap[i]->ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
+                    retval = 0;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 
-    /* It's completely fine to call this function before video is initialized */
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_ANDROID
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        Android_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#if defined(SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_WINDOWS) && !defined(__XBOXONE__) && !defined(__XBOXSERIES__)
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        WIN_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_WINRT
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        WINRT_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_COCOA
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        Cocoa_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_UIKIT
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        UIKit_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_WAYLAND
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        Wayland_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_X11
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        X11_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_HAIKU
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        HAIKU_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_RISCOS
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        RISCOS_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
-#ifdef SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_VITA
-    if (retval == -1 &&
-        VITA_ShowMessageBox(messageboxdata, buttonid) == 0) {
-        retval = 0;
-    }
-#endif
     if (retval == -1) {
         const char *error = SDL_GetError();
 
diff --git a/src/video/android/SDL_androidvideo.c b/src/video/android/SDL_androidvideo.c
index e000ec6963..6d759e24f5 100644
--- a/src/video/android/SDL_androidvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/android/SDL_androidvideo.c
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "SDL_androidtouch.h"
 #include "SDL_androidwindow.h"
 #include "SDL_androidvulkan.h"
+#include "SDL_androidmessagebox.h"
 
 #define ANDROID_VID_DRIVER_NAME "Android"
 
@@ -162,7 +163,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *Android_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap Android_bootstrap = {
     ANDROID_VID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL Android video driver",
-    Android_CreateDevice
+    Android_CreateDevice,
+    Android_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 int Android_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoavideo.m b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoavideo.m
index 1af270e342..02aa8bb8da 100644
--- a/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoavideo.m
+++ b/src/video/cocoa/SDL_cocoavideo.m
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "SDL_cocoavulkan.h"
 #include "SDL_cocoametalview.h"
 #include "SDL_cocoaopengles.h"
+#include "SDL_cocoamessagebox.h"
 
 @implementation SDL_CocoaVideoData
 
@@ -180,7 +181,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *Cocoa_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap COCOA_bootstrap = {
     "cocoa", "SDL Cocoa video driver",
-    Cocoa_CreateDevice
+    Cocoa_CreateDevice,
+    Cocoa_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 int Cocoa_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/dummy/SDL_nullvideo.c b/src/video/dummy/SDL_nullvideo.c
index 76336d6f00..961d5b535c 100644
--- a/src/video/dummy/SDL_nullvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/dummy/SDL_nullvideo.c
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *DUMMY_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap DUMMY_bootstrap = {
     DUMMYVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL dummy video driver",
-    DUMMY_CreateDevice
+    DUMMY_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 #ifdef SDL_INPUT_LINUXEV
@@ -142,7 +143,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *DUMMY_EVDEV_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap DUMMY_evdev_bootstrap = {
     DUMMYVID_DRIVER_EVDEV_NAME, "SDL dummy video driver with evdev",
-    DUMMY_EVDEV_CreateDevice
+    DUMMY_EVDEV_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 #endif /* SDL_INPUT_LINUXEV */
diff --git a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenvideo.c b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenvideo.c
index 1e6b083943..626a50239a 100644
--- a/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/emscripten/SDL_emscriptenvideo.c
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *Emscripten_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap Emscripten_bootstrap = {
     EMSCRIPTENVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL emscripten video driver",
-    Emscripten_CreateDevice
+    Emscripten_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 int Emscripten_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc b/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
index a6ee9a39d1..be246c42a0 100644
--- a/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
+++ b/src/video/haiku/SDL_bvideo.cc
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "SDL_bmodes.h"
 #include "SDL_bframebuffer.h"
 #include "SDL_bevents.h"
+#include "SDL_bmessagebox.h"
 
 static SDL_INLINE SDL_BWin *_ToBeWin(SDL_Window *window) {
     return (SDL_BWin *)(window->driverdata);
@@ -121,7 +122,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice * HAIKU_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap HAIKU_bootstrap = {
     "haiku", "Haiku graphics",
-    HAIKU_CreateDevice
+    HAIKU_CreateDevice,
+    HAIKU_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 void HAIKU_DeleteDevice(SDL_VideoDevice * device)
diff --git a/src/video/kmsdrm/SDL_kmsdrmvideo.c b/src/video/kmsdrm/SDL_kmsdrmvideo.c
index d55d38cf45..988fdfca3d 100644
--- a/src/video/kmsdrm/SDL_kmsdrmvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/kmsdrm/SDL_kmsdrmvideo.c
@@ -328,7 +328,8 @@ cleanup:
 VideoBootStrap KMSDRM_bootstrap = {
     "KMSDRM",
     "KMS/DRM Video Driver",
-    KMSDRM_CreateDevice
+    KMSDRM_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 static void KMSDRM_FBDestroyCallback(struct gbm_bo *bo, void *data)
diff --git a/src/video/n3ds/SDL_n3dsvideo.c b/src/video/n3ds/SDL_n3dsvideo.c
index 0c168cb795..0cc788fa34 100644
--- a/src/video/n3ds/SDL_n3dsvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/n3ds/SDL_n3dsvideo.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *N3DS_CreateDevice(void)
     return device;
 }
 
-VideoBootStrap N3DS_bootstrap = { N3DSVID_DRIVER_NAME, "N3DS Video Driver", N3DS_CreateDevice };
+VideoBootStrap N3DS_bootstrap = { N3DSVID_DRIVER_NAME, "N3DS Video Driver", N3DS_CreateDevice, NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */ };
 
 static int N3DS_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
 {
diff --git a/src/video/ngage/SDL_ngagevideo.cpp b/src/video/ngage/SDL_ngagevideo.cpp
index 1eff11e5d8..b53ddc327e 100644
--- a/src/video/ngage/SDL_ngagevideo.cpp
+++ b/src/video/ngage/SDL_ngagevideo.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *NGAGE_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap NGAGE_bootstrap = {
     NGAGEVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL ngage video driver",
-    NGAGE_CreateDevice
+    NGAGE_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 int NGAGE_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/offscreen/SDL_offscreenvideo.c b/src/video/offscreen/SDL_offscreenvideo.c
index e4d3148a0d..6e659ca99e 100644
--- a/src/video/offscreen/SDL_offscreenvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/offscreen/SDL_offscreenvideo.c
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *OFFSCREEN_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap OFFSCREEN_bootstrap = {
     OFFSCREENVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL offscreen video driver",
-    OFFSCREEN_CreateDevice
+    OFFSCREEN_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 int OFFSCREEN_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/ps2/SDL_ps2video.c b/src/video/ps2/SDL_ps2video.c
index ce1ea0ca32..9a4b7e698c 100644
--- a/src/video/ps2/SDL_ps2video.c
+++ b/src/video/ps2/SDL_ps2video.c
@@ -113,7 +113,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *PS2_CreateDevice(void)
 VideoBootStrap PS2_bootstrap = {
     "PS2",
     "PS2 Video Driver",
-    PS2_CreateDevice
+    PS2_CreateDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 #endif /* SDL_VIDEO_DRIVER_PS2 */
diff --git a/src/video/psp/SDL_pspvideo.c b/src/video/psp/SDL_pspvideo.c
index 71542256f0..b702466028 100644
--- a/src/video/psp/SDL_pspvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/psp/SDL_pspvideo.c
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *PSP_Create()
 VideoBootStrap PSP_bootstrap = {
     "PSP",
     "PSP Video Driver",
-    PSP_Create
+    PSP_Create,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/video/qnx/SDL_qnxvideo.c b/src/video/qnx/SDL_qnxvideo.c
index cf8c5b917a..66f31222a7 100644
--- a/src/video/qnx/SDL_qnxvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/qnx/SDL_qnxvideo.c
@@ -340,5 +340,6 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *createDevice()
 
 VideoBootStrap QNX_bootstrap = {
     "qnx", "QNX Screen",
-    createDevice
+    createDevice,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
diff --git a/src/video/raspberry/SDL_rpivideo.c b/src/video/raspberry/SDL_rpivideo.c
index d3b42285fa..03c08de97e 100644
--- a/src/video/raspberry/SDL_rpivideo.c
+++ b/src/video/raspberry/SDL_rpivideo.c
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *RPI_Create()
 VideoBootStrap RPI_bootstrap = {
     "RPI",
     "RPI Video Driver",
-    RPI_Create
+    RPI_Create,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/video/riscos/SDL_riscosvideo.c b/src/video/riscos/SDL_riscosvideo.c
index 398628a24e..0354318071 100644
--- a/src/video/riscos/SDL_riscosvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/riscos/SDL_riscosvideo.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "SDL_riscosmouse.h"
 #include "SDL_riscosmodes.h"
 #include "SDL_riscoswindow.h"
+#include "SDL_riscosmessagebox.h"
 
 #define RISCOSVID_DRIVER_NAME "riscos"
 
@@ -89,7 +90,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *RISCOS_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap RISCOS_bootstrap = {
     RISCOSVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL RISC OS video driver",
-    RISCOS_CreateDevice
+    RISCOS_CreateDevice,
+    RISCOS_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 static int RISCOS_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/uikit/SDL_uikitvideo.m b/src/video/uikit/SDL_uikitvideo.m
index 99cffbac62..5551312f21 100644
--- a/src/video/uikit/SDL_uikitvideo.m
+++ b/src/video/uikit/SDL_uikitvideo.m
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 #include "SDL_uikitclipboard.h"
 #include "SDL_uikitvulkan.h"
 #include "SDL_uikitmetalview.h"
+#include "SDL_uikitmessagebox.h"
 
 #define UIKITVID_DRIVER_NAME "uikit"
 
@@ -141,7 +142,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *UIKit_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap UIKIT_bootstrap = {
     UIKITVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL UIKit video driver",
-    UIKit_CreateDevice
+    UIKit_CreateDevice,
+    UIKit_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 int UIKit_VideoInit(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/vita/SDL_vitavideo.c b/src/video/vita/SDL_vitavideo.c
index bdb06e9905..c6a44faef5 100644
--- a/src/video/vita/SDL_vitavideo.c
+++ b/src/video/vita/SDL_vitavideo.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "SDL_vitakeyboard.h"
 #include "SDL_vitamouse_c.h"
 #include "SDL_vitaframebuffer.h"
+#include "SDL_vitamessagebox.h"
 
 #ifdef SDL_VIDEO_VITA_PIB
 #include "SDL_vitagles_c.h"
@@ -158,7 +159,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *VITA_Create()
 VideoBootStrap VITA_bootstrap = {
     "VITA",
     "VITA Video Driver",
-    VITA_Create
+    VITA_Create,
+    VITA_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/video/vivante/SDL_vivantevideo.c b/src/video/vivante/SDL_vivantevideo.c
index 49f1525099..eda1566195 100644
--- a/src/video/vivante/SDL_vivantevideo.c
+++ b/src/video/vivante/SDL_vivantevideo.c
@@ -105,7 +105,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *VIVANTE_Create()
 VideoBootStrap VIVANTE_bootstrap = {
     "vivante",
     "Vivante EGL Video Driver",
-    VIVANTE_Create
+    VIVANTE_Create,
+    NULL /* no ShowMessageBox implementation */
 };
 
 /*****************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandvideo.c b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandvideo.c
index 2a70f83577..3bb4c8ba96 100644
--- a/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/wayland/SDL_waylandvideo.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "SDL_waylandkeyboard.h"
 #include "SDL_waylandclipboard.h"
 #include "SDL_waylandvulkan.h"
+#include "SDL_waylandmessagebox.h"
 
 #include <sys/types.h>
 #include <unistd.h>
@@ -318,7 +319,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *Wayland_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap Wayland_bootstrap = {
     WAYLANDVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL Wayland video driver",
-    Wayland_CreateDevice
+    Wayland_CreateDevice,
+    Wayland_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 static void xdg_output_handle_logical_position(void *data, struct zxdg_output_v1 *xdg_output,
diff --git a/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsvideo.c b/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsvideo.c
index 1080a6a75e..4789fe1d1e 100644
--- a/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsvideo.c
+++ b/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsvideo.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "SDL_windowsvideo.h"
 #include "SDL_windowsframebuffer.h"
 #include "SDL_windowsvulkan.h"
+#include "SDL_windowsmessagebox.h"
 
 #ifdef SDL_GDK_TEXTINPUT
 #include "../gdk/SDL_gdktextinput.h"
@@ -284,7 +285,12 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *WIN_CreateDevice(void)
 }
 
 VideoBootStrap WINDOWS_bootstrap = {
-    "windows", "SDL Windows video driver", WIN_CreateDevice
+    "windows", "SDL Windows video driver", WIN_CreateDevice,
+    #if !defined(__XBOXONE__) && !defined(__XBOXSERIES__)
+    WIN_ShowMessageBox
+    #else
+    NULL
+    #endif
 };
 
 static BOOL WIN_DeclareDPIAwareUnaware(SDL_VideoDevice *_this)
diff --git a/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtmessagebox.cpp b/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtmessagebox.cpp
index bee8900956..6aacafa6a5 100644
--- a/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtmessagebox.cpp
+++ b/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtmessagebox.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static String ^ WINRT_UTF8ToPlatformString(const char *str) {
     return rtstr;
 }
 
-    extern "C" int WINRT_ShowMessageBox(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int *buttonid)
+extern "C" int WINRT_ShowMessageBox(const SDL_MessageBoxData *messageboxdata, int *buttonid)
 {
 #if SDL_WINAPI_FAMILY_PHONE && NTDDI_VERSION == NTDDI_WIN8
     /* Sadly, Windows Phone 8 doesn't include the MessageDialog class that
diff --git a/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtvideo.cpp b/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtvideo.cpp
index 973730e1b9..7ab8e8c240 100644
--- a/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtvideo.cpp
+++ b/src/video/winrt/SDL_winrtvideo.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "../SDL_pixels_c.h"
 #include "../SDL_sysvideo.h"
 #include "SDL_winrtopengles.h"
+#include "SDL_winrtmessagebox.h"
 }
 
 #include "../../core/winrt/SDL_winrtapp_direct3d.h"
@@ -155,10 +156,10 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *WINRT_CreateDevice(void)
     return device;
 }
 
-#define WINRTVID_DRIVER_NAME "winrt"
 VideoBootStrap WINRT_bootstrap = {
-    WINRTVID_DRIVER_NAME, "SDL WinRT video driver",
-    WINRT_CreateDevice
+    "winrt", "SDL WinRT video driver",
+    WINRT_CreateDevice,
+    WINRT_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 static void SDLCALL WINRT_SetDisplayOrientationsPreference(void *userdata, const char *name, const char *oldValue, const char *newValue)
diff --git a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
index 5a7ad268cb..0b02349660 100644
--- a/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
+++ b/src/video/x11/SDL_x11video.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "SDL_x11video.h"
 #include "SDL_x11xfixes.h"
 #include "SDL_x11xinput2.h"
+#include "SDL_x11messagebox.h"
 
 #ifdef SDL_VIDEO_OPENGL_EGL
 #include "SDL_x11opengles.h"
@@ -283,7 +284,8 @@ static SDL_VideoDevice *X11_CreateDevice(void)
 
 VideoBootStrap X11_bootstrap = {
     "x11", "SDL X11 video driver",
-    X11_CreateDevice
+    X11_CreateDevice,
+    X11_ShowMessageBox
 };
 
 static int (*handler)(Display *, XErrorEvent *) = NULL;