diff --git a/drivers/serial/sandbox.c b/drivers/serial/sandbox.c
index dbbcea5bb4..0b1756f5c0 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/sandbox.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/sandbox.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ static int sandbox_serial_pending(struct udevice *dev, bool input)
 		return 0;
 
 	os_usleep(100);
-	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_BUILD))
+	if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_DM_VIDEO) && !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SPL_BUILD))
 		video_sync_all();
 	avail = membuff_putraw(&priv->buf, 100, false, &data);
 	if (!avail)