diff --git a/src/emu/render.cpp b/src/emu/render.cpp
index 53850f35358..fe62b3c0bf8 100644
--- a/src/emu/render.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/render.cpp
@@ -1593,10 +1593,13 @@ void render_target::load_additional_layout_files(const char *basename, bool have
 		int cloneof = driver_list::clone(system);
 		while (0 <= cloneof)
 		{
-			if (!load_layout_file(driver_list::driver(cloneof).name, driver_list::driver(cloneof).name))
-				m_external_artwork |= load_layout_file(driver_list::driver(cloneof).name, "default");
-			else
-				m_external_artwork = true;
+			if (!m_external_artwork || driver_list::driver(cloneof).flags & MACHINE_IS_BIOS_ROOT)
+			{
+				if (!load_layout_file(driver_list::driver(cloneof).name, driver_list::driver(cloneof).name))
+					m_external_artwork |= load_layout_file(driver_list::driver(cloneof).name, "default");
+				else
+					m_external_artwork = true;
+			}
 
 			// Check the parent of the parent to cover bios based artwork
 			const game_driver &parent(driver_list::driver(cloneof));