diff --git a/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.c b/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.c
index a65e67e459..c4c7d32756 100644
--- a/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.c
+++ b/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.c
@@ -1,33 +1,48 @@
 #ifdef KERNEL_MODE
+
+#include <sys/irq.h>
+
 #include "fb_queue.h"
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_copy(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
-  if (queue->entry[queue->wix] != FB_STATE_PREPARING) {
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_copy(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
+  int16_t wix = queue->wix;
+  if (queue->entry[wix] != FB_STATE_PREPARING) {
     // No refresh needed as the frame buffer is not in
     // the state to be copied to the display
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return -1;
   }
 
-  return queue->wix;
+  irq_unlock(key);
+  return wix;
 }
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_write(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_write(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
   frame_buffer_state_t state;
 
   // We have to wait if the buffer was passed for copying
   // to the interrupt handler
   do {
+    irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
     state = queue->entry[queue->wix];
+    irq_unlock(key);
+
   } while (state == FB_STATE_READY || state == FB_STATE_COPYING);
 
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   queue->entry[queue->wix] = FB_STATE_PREPARING;
+  irq_unlock(key);
 
   return queue->wix;
 }
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
+
   if (queue->rix >= FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT) {
     // This is an invalid state, and we should never get here
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return -1;
   }
 
@@ -38,12 +53,15 @@ int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
 
     case FB_STATE_COPYING:
       // Currently we are copying a data to the display.
+
+      irq_unlock(key);
       return -1;
       break;
 
     case FB_STATE_READY:
       // Now it's proper time to copy the data to the display
       queue->entry[queue->rix] = FB_STATE_COPYING;
+      irq_unlock(key);
       return queue->rix;
 
       // NOTE: when copying is done, this queue slot is marked empty
@@ -51,29 +69,36 @@ int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
 
     default:
       // This is an invalid state, and we should never get here
+      irq_unlock(key);
       return -1;
       break;
   }
 }
 
-bool fb_queue_set_done(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+bool fb_queue_set_done(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   if (queue->rix >= FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT) {
     // This is an invalid state, and we should never get here
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return false;
   }
 
   if (queue->entry[queue->rix] == FB_STATE_COPYING) {
     queue->entry[queue->rix] = FB_STATE_EMPTY;
     queue->rix = (queue->rix + 1) % FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT;
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return true;
   }
 
+  irq_unlock(key);
   return false;
 }
 
-bool fb_queue_set_switched(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+bool fb_queue_set_switched(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   if (queue->rix >= FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT) {
     // This is an invalid state, and we should never get here
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return false;
   }
 
@@ -83,28 +108,35 @@ bool fb_queue_set_switched(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
     }
     queue->aix = queue->rix;
     queue->rix = (queue->rix + 1) % FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT;
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return true;
   }
 
+  irq_unlock(key);
   return false;
 }
 
-bool fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+bool fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   if (queue->wix >= FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT) {
     // This is an invalid state, and we should never get here
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return false;
   }
 
   if (queue->entry[queue->rix] == FB_STATE_PREPARING) {
     queue->entry[queue->rix] = FB_STATE_READY;
     queue->wix = (queue->wix + 1) % FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT;
+    irq_unlock(key);
     return true;
   }
 
+  irq_unlock(key);
   return false;
 }
 
-void fb_queue_reset(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+void fb_queue_reset(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   // Reset the buffer queue so we can eventually continue
   // safely in thread mode
   queue->wix = 0;
@@ -112,17 +144,21 @@ void fb_queue_reset(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
   for (int i = 0; i < FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT; i++) {
     queue->entry[i] = FB_STATE_EMPTY;
   }
+  irq_unlock(key);
 }
 
-bool fb_queue_is_processed(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+bool fb_queue_is_processed(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue) {
+  irq_key_t key = irq_lock();
   for (int i = 0; i < FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT; i++) {
     frame_buffer_state_t state = queue->entry[i];
     if (state == FB_STATE_READY ||
         (state == FB_STATE_COPYING && i != queue->aix)) {
+      irq_unlock(key);
       return false;
     }
   }
 
+  irq_unlock(key);
   return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.h b/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.h
index 53240f50ee..f189d940c8 100644
--- a/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.h
+++ b/core/embed/io/display/fb_queue/fb_queue.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ typedef enum {
 
 typedef struct {
   // Queue entries
-  volatile frame_buffer_state_t entry[FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT];
+  frame_buffer_state_t entry[FRAME_BUFFER_COUNT];
   // Active index
   // (accessed & updated in the context of the interrupt handlers
   int16_t aix;
@@ -56,18 +56,29 @@ typedef struct {
 
 } frame_buffer_queue_t;
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_copy(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Get the frame buffer index for copying to display
+// Call from main thread only
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_copy(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_write(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Get the frame buffer index for writing
+// Call from main thread only
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_write(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Get the frame buffer index for transfer
+int16_t fb_queue_get_for_transfer(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-bool fb_queue_set_done(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Mark the frame buffer as done, thus no longer used
+bool fb_queue_set_done(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-bool fb_queue_set_switched(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Mark the frame buffer as switched, thus actively used by display
+bool fb_queue_set_switched(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-bool fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Mark the frame buffer as ready to be copied to the display
+// Call from main thread only
+bool fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-void fb_queue_reset(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Reset the queue state
+void fb_queue_reset(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
 
-bool fb_queue_is_processed(volatile frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
+// Check if all frame buffers are processed
+bool fb_queue_is_processed(frame_buffer_queue_t *queue);
diff --git a/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_fb.c b/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_fb.c
index 3532785301..d67c3d6f03 100644
--- a/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_fb.c
+++ b/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_fb.c
@@ -210,26 +210,8 @@ void display_refresh(void) {
   mpu_set_active_fb(NULL, 0);
 
 #ifndef BOARDLOADER
-  if (is_mode_exception()) {
-    // Disable scheduling of any new background copying
-    NVIC_DisableIRQ(DISPLAY_TE_INTERRUPT_NUM);
-    // Wait for next TE signal. During this time the
-    // display might be updated in the background
-    wait_for_te_signal();
-    // Stop any background copying even if it is not finished yet
-    bg_copy_abort();
-    // Copy the frame buffer to the display manually
-    copy_fb_to_display(fb_idx);
-    // Reset the buffer queue so we can eventually continue
-    // safely in thread mode
-    fb_queue_reset(&drv->queue);
-
-    // Enable normal processing again
-    NVIC_EnableIRQ(DISPLAY_TE_INTERRUPT_NUM);
-  } else {
-    // Mark the buffer ready to switch to
-    fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(&drv->queue);
-  }
+  // Mark the buffer ready to switch to
+  fb_queue_set_ready_for_transfer(&drv->queue);
 
 #else  // BOARDLOADER
   wait_for_te_signal();
diff --git a/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_internal.h b/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_internal.h
index 7af7934ba1..0aaac241f5 100644
--- a/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_internal.h
+++ b/core/embed/io/display/st-7789/display_internal.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ typedef struct {
   // Framebuffer queue
   // (accessed & updated in the context of the main thread
   // and the interrupt context)
-  volatile frame_buffer_queue_t queue;
+  frame_buffer_queue_t queue;
 #endif
 
   // Current display orientation (0, 90, 180, 270)