diff --git a/Firmware/lcd.cpp b/Firmware/lcd.cpp
index 81f0c6e00..ba8678ca1 100644
--- a/Firmware/lcd.cpp
+++ b/Firmware/lcd.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ uint8_t lcd_escape[8];
 #endif
 
 static uint8_t lcd_custom_characters[8] = {0};
-static uint8_t lcd_custom_index = 0;
 
 static void lcd_display(void);
 
@@ -101,6 +100,7 @@ static void lcd_no_autoscroll(void);
 #endif
 
 static void lcd_print_custom(uint8_t c);
+static void lcd_invalidate_custom_characters();
 
 #ifdef VT100
 void lcd_escape_write(uint8_t chr);
@@ -244,12 +244,13 @@ void lcd_refresh_noclear(void)
     lcd_begin(0);
 }
 
-// Clear display, set cursor position to zero and unshift the display. It does not clear the custom characters memory
+// Clear display, set cursor position to zero and unshift the display. It also invalidates all custom characters
 void lcd_clear(void)
 {
 	lcd_command(LCD_CLEARDISPLAY, 1600);
 	lcd_currline = 0;
 	lcd_ddram_address = 0;
+	lcd_invalidate_custom_characters();
 }
 
 // Set cursor position to zero and in DDRAM. It does not unshift the display.
@@ -831,25 +832,36 @@ const CustomCharacter Font[] PROGMEM = {
 #include "Fonts/FontTable.h"
 };
 
+// #define DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
+
 static void lcd_print_custom(uint8_t c) {
 	uint8_t charToSend;
 	// check if we already have the character in the lcd memory
-	for (uint8_t i = 0; i < lcd_custom_index; i++) {
-		if (lcd_custom_characters[i] == c) {
-			// send the found custom character id
-			charToSend = i;
+	for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+		if ((lcd_custom_characters[i] & 0x7F) == (c & 0x7F)) {
+			lcd_custom_characters[i] = c; // mark the custom character as used
+			charToSend = i; // send the found custom character id
+#ifdef DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
+			printf_P(PSTR("found char %02x at index %u\n"), c, i);
+#endif // DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
 			goto sendChar;
 		}
 	}
 
-	// character not in memory.
-	if (lcd_custom_index >= 8) { //ran out of custom characters. Use the alternate character.
-		charToSend = pgm_read_byte(&Font[c - 0x80].alternate);
-	}
-	else { //create a new custom character and send it
-		lcd_createChar_P(lcd_custom_index, Font[c - 0x80].data);
-		lcd_custom_characters[lcd_custom_index] = c;
-		charToSend = lcd_custom_index++;
+	// in case no empty slot is found, use the alternate character.
+	charToSend = pgm_read_byte(&Font[c - 0x80].alternate);
+
+	// try to find a slot where it could be placed
+	for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+		if (lcd_custom_characters[i] == 0x7F) { //found an empty slot. create a new custom character and send it
+			lcd_createChar_P(i, Font[c - 0x80].data);
+			lcd_custom_characters[i] = c; // mark the custom character as used
+#ifdef DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
+			printf_P(PSTR("new char %02x at slot %u\n"), c, i);
+#endif // DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
+			charToSend = i;
+			break;
+		}
 	}
 
 sendChar:
@@ -857,6 +869,31 @@ sendChar:
 	lcd_ddram_address++; // no need for preventing ddram overflow
 }
 
-void lcd_invalidate_custom_characters() {
-	lcd_custom_index = 0;
+static void lcd_invalidate_custom_characters() {
+	memset(lcd_custom_characters, 0x7F, sizeof(lcd_custom_characters));
+}
+
+void lcd_frame_start() {
+	// check all custom characters and discard unused ones
+	for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+		uint8_t c = lcd_custom_characters[i];
+		if (c == 0x7F) { //slot empty
+			continue;
+		}
+		else if (c & 0x80) { //slot was used on the last frame update, mark it as potentially unused this time
+			lcd_custom_characters[i] = c & 0x7F;
+		}
+		else { //character is no longer used (or invalid?), mark it as unused
+			lcd_custom_characters[i] = 0x7F;
+		}
+		
+	}
+	
+#ifdef DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
+	printf_P(PSTR("frame start:"));
+	for (uint8_t i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
+		printf_P(PSTR(" %02x"), lcd_custom_characters[i]);
+	}
+	printf_P(PSTR("\n"));
+#endif // DEBUG_CUSTOM_CHARACTERS
 }
diff --git a/Firmware/lcd.h b/Firmware/lcd.h
index ed368b2c8..f8a1811ad 100644
--- a/Firmware/lcd.h
+++ b/Firmware/lcd.h
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ struct CustomCharacter {
     const char alternate;
 };
 
-extern void lcd_invalidate_custom_characters();
+extern void lcd_frame_start();
 
 //! @brief Consume click and longpress event
 inline void lcd_consume_click()
diff --git a/Firmware/menu.cpp b/Firmware/menu.cpp
index 2ce628042..556b8fca0 100755
--- a/Firmware/menu.cpp
+++ b/Firmware/menu.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void menu_start(void)
 		menu_top = lcd_encoder;
     menu_line = menu_top;
     menu_clicked = lcd_clicked(); // Consume click event
+	if (lcd_draw_update) lcd_frame_start();
 }
 
 void menu_end(void)
diff --git a/Firmware/ultralcd.cpp b/Firmware/ultralcd.cpp
index 7b71dc858..0e3391604 100644
--- a/Firmware/ultralcd.cpp
+++ b/Firmware/ultralcd.cpp
@@ -627,6 +627,7 @@ void lcdui_print_status_line(void) {
 //! @endcode
 void lcdui_print_status_screen(void)
 {
+    lcd_frame_start();
 	lcd_home(); //line 0
 
     //Print the hotend temperature (9 chars total)
@@ -680,7 +681,6 @@ void lcdui_print_status_screen(void)
 #ifndef DEBUG_DISABLE_LCD_STATUS_LINE
 	lcdui_print_status_line();
 #endif //DEBUG_DISABLE_LCD_STATUS_LINE
-
 }
 
 static void lcdui_refresh(uint8_t clear = true)
@@ -2862,6 +2862,7 @@ static const char* lcd_display_message_fullscreen_nonBlocking_P(const char *msg)
 {
     const char *msgend = msg;
     bool multi_screen = false;
+    lcd_frame_start();
     for (uint8_t row = 0; row < LCD_HEIGHT; ++ row) {
         lcd_set_cursor(0, row);