diff --git a/src/guiengine/engine.cpp b/src/guiengine/engine.cpp
index 4173f9145..6d4745af3 100644
--- a/src/guiengine/engine.cpp
+++ b/src/guiengine/engine.cpp
@@ -1183,17 +1183,25 @@ namespace GUIEngine
         // ---- some menus may need updating
         if (gamestate != GAME)
         {
+            bool dialog_opened = false;
+            
             if (ScreenKeyboard::isActive())
             {
                 ScreenKeyboard::getCurrent()->onUpdate(dt);
+                dialog_opened = true;
             }
             else if (ModalDialog::isADialogActive())
             {
                 ModalDialog::getCurrent()->onUpdate(dt);
+                dialog_opened = true;
             }
-            else
+            
+            Screen* screen = getCurrentScreen();
+
+            if (screen != NULL && 
+                (!dialog_opened || screen->getUpdateInBackground()))
             {
-                getCurrentScreen()->onUpdate(elapsed_time);
+                screen->onUpdate(elapsed_time);
             }
         }
         else
diff --git a/src/guiengine/screen.cpp b/src/guiengine/screen.cpp
index 995a9711c..e9de90c4f 100644
--- a/src/guiengine/screen.cpp
+++ b/src/guiengine/screen.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ Screen::Screen(const char* file, bool pause_race)
     m_render_3d      = false;
     m_loaded         = false;
     m_pause_race     = pause_race;
+    m_update_in_background = false;
 }   // Screen
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -71,6 +72,7 @@ Screen::Screen(bool pause_race)
     m_loaded       = false;
     m_render_3d    = false;
     m_pause_race   = pause_race;
+    m_update_in_background = false;
 }   // Screen
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/guiengine/screen.hpp b/src/guiengine/screen.hpp
index b4334b0ef..0e82f36f9 100644
--- a/src/guiengine/screen.hpp
+++ b/src/guiengine/screen.hpp
@@ -113,6 +113,11 @@ namespace GUIEngine
         /** to catch errors as early as possible, for debugging purposes only */
         unsigned int m_magic_number;
 
+        /** When set to true it updates the screen even if modal dialog is 
+         *  opened
+         */
+        bool m_update_in_background;
+
     protected:
         bool m_throttle_FPS;
 
@@ -155,6 +160,12 @@ namespace GUIEngine
         void manualAddWidget(Widget* w);
 
         void manualRemoveWidget(Widget* w);
+        
+        /** When set to true it updates the screen even if modal dialog is 
+         *  opened
+         */
+        void setUpdateInBackground(bool value) {m_update_in_background = value;}
+        bool getUpdateInBackground() {return m_update_in_background;}
 
         /** \return the name of this menu (which is the name of the file) */
         const std::string& getName() const { return m_filename; }
diff --git a/src/states_screens/online/networking_lobby.cpp b/src/states_screens/online/networking_lobby.cpp
index f758b5f70..f82e9c93d 100644
--- a/src/states_screens/online/networking_lobby.cpp
+++ b/src/states_screens/online/networking_lobby.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,9 @@ NetworkingLobby::NetworkingLobby() : Screen("online/networking_lobby.stkgui")
     m_chat_box = NULL;
     m_send_button = NULL;
     m_icon_bank = NULL;
+
+    // Allows to update chat and counter even if dialog window is opened
+    setUpdateInBackground(true);
 }   // NetworkingLobby
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------