diff --git a/src/core/winrt/SDL_winrtapp_direct3d.cpp b/src/core/winrt/SDL_winrtapp_direct3d.cpp
index d91451068..009d1a52c 100644
--- a/src/core/winrt/SDL_winrtapp_direct3d.cpp
+++ b/src/core/winrt/SDL_winrtapp_direct3d.cpp
@@ -126,6 +126,16 @@ static void WINRT_SetDisplayOrientationsPreference(void *userdata, const char *n
 {
     SDL_assert(SDL_strcmp(name, SDL_HINT_ORIENTATIONS) == 0);
 
+    /* HACK: prevent SDL from altering an app's .appxmanifest-set orientation
+     * from being changed on startup, by detecting when SDL_HINT_ORIENTATIONS
+     * is getting registered.
+     *
+     * TODO, WinRT: consider reading in an app's .appxmanifest file, and apply its orientation when 'newValue == NULL'.
+     */
+    if ((oldValue == NULL) && (newValue == NULL)) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     // Start with no orientation flags, then add each in as they're parsed
     // from newValue.
     unsigned int orientationFlags = 0;