diff --git a/Common/ac/spritecache.cpp b/Common/ac/spritecache.cpp
index 552258ce5e..ace652fcfe 100644
--- a/Common/ac/spritecache.cpp
+++ b/Common/ac/spritecache.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,13 @@ bool SpriteCache::IsSpriteLoaded(sprkey_t index) const
     return ResourceCache::Exists(index);
 }
 
+bool SpriteCache::IsAssetUnloaded(sprkey_t index) const
+{
+    return index >= 0 && (size_t)index < _spriteData.size() && // in the valid range
+        _spriteData[index].IsAssetSprite() && // found in the game resources
+        !ResourceCache::Exists(index);
+}
+
 void SpriteCache::Reset()
 {
     _file.Close();
diff --git a/Common/ac/spritecache.h b/Common/ac/spritecache.h
index 14bbd127c7..ce91c201de 100644
--- a/Common/ac/spritecache.h
+++ b/Common/ac/spritecache.h
@@ -123,6 +123,11 @@ class SpriteCache :
     bool        IsAssetSprite(sprkey_t index) const;
     // Tells if the sprite is loaded into the memory (either from asset file, or assigned directly)
     bool        IsSpriteLoaded(sprkey_t index) const;
+    // Tells if the given slot represents an "asset sprite", which is currently unloaded.
+    // This is a helper method that lets distinguish an asset missing from memory,
+    // because IsSpriteLoaded() also reports true for external sprites, and false for
+    // any non-occupied sprite slots.
+    bool        IsAssetUnloaded(sprkey_t index) const;
     // Loads sprite using SpriteFile if such index is known,
     // frees the space if cache size reaches the limit
     void        PrecacheSprite(sprkey_t index);
diff --git a/Engine/ac/draw.cpp b/Engine/ac/draw.cpp
index a80476e17d..bd076ed33e 100644
--- a/Engine/ac/draw.cpp
+++ b/Engine/ac/draw.cpp
@@ -2681,6 +2681,9 @@ static void construct_overlays()
             overcache[i].X = pos.X; overcache[i].Y = pos.Y;
         }
 
+        // Test if must recache the unloaded sprite in software mode
+        has_changed |= (is_software_mode && spriteset.IsAssetUnloaded(over.GetSpriteNum()));
+
         if (has_changed || overtx.IsChangeNotified())
         {
             overtx.SpriteID = over.GetSpriteNum();
@@ -2783,10 +2786,11 @@ void construct_game_screen_overlay(bool draw_mouse)
     }
 
     // Mouse cursor
-    if ((play.screen_is_faded_out == 0) &&
-        draw_mouse && !play.mouse_cursor_hidden)
+    if ((play.screen_is_faded_out == 0) && draw_mouse && !play.mouse_cursor_hidden)
     {
-        if (cursor_gstate.HasChanged() || cursor_tx.IsChangeNotified())
+        if (cursor_gstate.HasChanged() || cursor_tx.IsChangeNotified() ||
+            // Test if must recache the unloaded sprite in software mode
+            (drawstate.SoftwareRender && (cursor_gstate.GetSpriteNum() >= 0) && spriteset.IsAssetUnloaded(cursor_gstate.GetSpriteNum())))
         {
             cursor_tx.SpriteID = cursor_gstate.GetSpriteNum();
             if (cursor_tx.SpriteID != UINT32_MAX)
diff --git a/Engine/ac/screenoverlay.h b/Engine/ac/screenoverlay.h
index 26332bc498..d7988d2ad3 100644
--- a/Engine/ac/screenoverlay.h
+++ b/Engine/ac/screenoverlay.h
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ struct ScreenOverlay
     }
     // Gets actual overlay's image, whether owned by overlay or by a sprite reference
     Common::Bitmap *GetImage() const;
-    // Get sprite id, or 0 if none set
-    int GetSpriteNum() const { return _sprnum; }
+    // Get this overlay's sprite id
+    int  GetSpriteNum() const { return _sprnum; }
     Size GetGraphicSize() const;
     // Assigns an exclusive image to this overlay; the image will be stored as a dynamic sprite
     // in a sprite cache, but owned by this overlay and therefore disposed at its disposal