diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/WorkQueueThread.h b/Source/Core/Common/WorkQueueThread.h
index 9ad7c4f471..8816ddda16 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/WorkQueueThread.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/WorkQueueThread.h
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include <atomic>
 #include <functional>
 #include <future>
 #include <mutex>
@@ -22,8 +21,10 @@ template <typename T, bool IsSingleProducer>
 class WorkQueueThreadBase final
 {
 public:
+  using FunctionType = std::function<void(T)>;
+
   WorkQueueThreadBase() = default;
-  WorkQueueThreadBase(std::string name, std::function<void(T)> function)
+  WorkQueueThreadBase(std::string name, FunctionType function)
   {
     Reset(std::move(name), std::move(function));
   }
@@ -31,11 +32,10 @@ public:
 
   // Shuts the current work thread down (if any) and starts a new thread with the given function
   // Note: Some consumers of this API push items to the queue before starting the thread.
-  void Reset(std::string name, std::function<void(T)> function)
+  void Reset(std::string name, FunctionType function)
   {
     auto lg = GetLockGuard();
     Shutdown();
-    m_run_thread.store(true, std::memory_order_relaxed);
     m_thread = std::thread(std::bind_front(&WorkQueueThreadBase::ThreadLoop, this), std::move(name),
                            std::move(function));
   }
@@ -56,25 +56,30 @@ public:
   void Cancel()
   {
     auto lg = GetLockGuard();
-    if (IsRunning())
-    {
-      m_skip_work.store(true, std::memory_order_relaxed);
-      WaitForCompletion();
-      m_skip_work.store(false, std::memory_order_relaxed);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      m_items.Clear();
-    }
+
+    // Fast path avoids round trip thread communication and saves ~20us.
+    if (m_items.Empty())
+      return;
+
+    RunCommand([&] { m_items.Clear(); });
   }
 
   // Tells the worker thread to stop when its queue is empty.
   // Blocks until the worker thread exits. Does nothing if thread isn't running.
-  void Shutdown() { StopThread(true); }
+  void Shutdown()
+  {
+    auto lg = GetLockGuard();
+    WaitForCompletion();
+    StopThread();
+  }
 
   // Tells the worker thread to stop immediately, potentially leaving work in the queue.
   // Blocks until the worker thread exits. Does nothing if thread isn't running.
-  void Stop() { StopThread(false); }
+  void Stop()
+  {
+    auto lg = GetLockGuard();
+    StopThread();
+  }
 
   // Stops the worker thread ASAP and empties the queue.
   void StopAndCancel()
@@ -94,18 +99,33 @@ public:
   }
 
 private:
-  void StopThread(bool wait_for_completion)
+  using CommandFunction = std::function<void()>;
+
+  // Blocking.
+  void RunCommand(CommandFunction cmd)
   {
-    auto lg = GetLockGuard();
-
-    if (wait_for_completion)
-      WaitForCompletion();
-
-    if (m_run_thread.exchange(false, std::memory_order_relaxed))
+    if (!IsRunning())
     {
-      m_event.Set();
-      m_thread.join();
+      std::invoke(cmd);
+      return;
     }
+
+    m_commands.Emplace(std::move(cmd));
+    m_event.Set();
+    m_commands.WaitForEmpty();
+  }
+
+  // Stop immediately.
+  void StopThread()
+  {
+    if (!m_thread.joinable())
+      return;
+
+    // empty-function shutdown signal.
+    m_commands.Emplace(CommandFunction{});
+    m_event.Set();
+    m_thread.join();
+    m_commands.Clear();
   }
 
   auto GetLockGuard()
@@ -124,24 +144,29 @@ private:
 
   bool IsRunning() { return m_thread.joinable(); }
 
-  void ThreadLoop(const std::string& thread_name, const std::function<void(T)>& function)
+  void ThreadLoop(const std::string& thread_name, const FunctionType& function)
   {
     Common::SetCurrentThreadName(thread_name.c_str());
 
-    while (m_run_thread.load(std::memory_order_relaxed))
+    while (true)
     {
+      while (!m_commands.Empty())
+      {
+        CommandFunction& command = m_commands.Front();
+        // empty-function shutdown signal.
+        if (!command)
+          return;
+
+        std::invoke(command);
+        m_commands.Pop();
+      }
+
       if (m_items.Empty())
       {
         m_event.Wait();
         continue;
       }
 
-      if (m_skip_work.load(std::memory_order_relaxed))
-      {
-        m_items.Clear();
-        continue;
-      }
-
       function(std::move(m_items.Front()));
       m_items.Pop();
     }
@@ -149,9 +174,8 @@ private:
 
   std::thread m_thread;
   Common::WaitableSPSCQueue<T> m_items;
+  Common::WaitableSPSCQueue<CommandFunction> m_commands;
   Common::Event m_event;
-  std::atomic_bool m_skip_work = false;
-  std::atomic_bool m_run_thread = false;
 
   using DummyMutex = std::type_identity<void>;
   using ProducerMutex = std::conditional_t<IsSingleProducer, DummyMutex, std::recursive_mutex>;