diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_framebuffer.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_framebuffer.c
index 86eed48183..276c0a0e6b 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_framebuffer.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_framebuffer.c
@@ -127,8 +127,6 @@ static const struct fb_planeinfo_s g_planeinfo =
   .bpp      = CONFIG_SIM_FBBPP,
 };
 #else
-static struct work_s g_updatework;
-
 /* This structure describes the single, X11 color plane */
 
 static struct fb_planeinfo_s g_planeinfo;
@@ -150,7 +148,7 @@ static struct fb_cursorsize_s g_csize;
  * in this simple framebuffer simulation.
  */
 
-struct fb_vtable_s g_fbobject =
+static struct fb_vtable_s g_fbobject =
 {
   .getvideoinfo  = sim_getvideoinfo,
   .getplaneinfo  = sim_getplaneinfo,
@@ -334,23 +332,32 @@ static int sim_setcursor(struct fb_vtable_s *vtable,
 }
 #endif
 
-/****************************************************************************
- * Name: sim_updatework
- ****************************************************************************/
-
-#ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
-static void sim_updatework(void *arg)
-{
-  work_queue(LPWORK, &g_updatework, sim_updatework, NULL, MSEC2TICK(33));
-  sim_x11update();
-  fb_pollnotify(&g_fbobject);
-}
-#endif
-
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
  ****************************************************************************/
 
+/****************************************************************************
+ * Name: sim_x11loop
+ ****************************************************************************/
+
+void sim_x11loop(void)
+{
+#ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
+  if (g_planeinfo.fbmem != NULL)
+    {
+      static clock_t last;
+      clock_t now = clock_systime_ticks();
+
+      if (now - last >= MSEC2TICK(16))
+        {
+          sim_x11update();
+          fb_pollnotify(&g_fbobject);
+          last = now;
+        }
+    }
+#endif
+}
+
 /****************************************************************************
  * Name: up_fbinitialize
  *
@@ -373,12 +380,8 @@ int up_fbinitialize(int display)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
   ret = sim_x11initialize(CONFIG_SIM_FBWIDTH, CONFIG_SIM_FBHEIGHT,
-                         &g_planeinfo.fbmem, &g_planeinfo.fblen,
-                         &g_planeinfo.bpp, &g_planeinfo.stride);
-  if (ret == OK)
-    {
-      work_queue(LPWORK, &g_updatework, sim_updatework, NULL, MSEC2TICK(33));
-    }
+                          &g_planeinfo.fbmem, &g_planeinfo.fblen,
+                          &g_planeinfo.bpp, &g_planeinfo.stride);
 #endif
 
   return ret;
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_initialize.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_initialize.c
index 48af8bde77..1eb23e5879 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_initialize.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_initialize.c
@@ -173,6 +173,10 @@ static int sim_loop_task(int argc, char **argv)
       sim_x11events();
 #endif
 
+#if defined(CONFIG_SIM_LCDDRIVER) || defined(CONFIG_SIM_FRAMEBUFFER)
+      sim_x11loop();
+#endif
+
 #ifdef CONFIG_SIM_NETDEV
       /* Run the network if enabled */
 
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_internal.h b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_internal.h
index 2dc5267f3b..037bc27300 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_internal.h
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_internal.h
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ void sim_x11events(void);
 void sim_buttonevent(int x, int y, int buttons);
 #endif
 
+/* sim_framebuffer.c sim_lcd.c **********************************************/
+
+#if defined(CONFIG_SIM_LCDDRIVER) || defined(CONFIG_SIM_FRAMEBUFFER)
+void sim_x11loop(void);
+#endif
+
 /* sim_ajoystick.c **********************************************************/
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SIM_AJOYSTICK
diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_lcd.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_lcd.c
index c71c72820a..b20193f44f 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_lcd.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_lcd.c
@@ -157,8 +157,6 @@ static uint8_t g_runbuffer[FB_STRIDE];
 #else
 static size_t g_fblen;
 static unsigned short g_stride;
-
-static struct work_s g_updatework;
 #endif
 
 /* This structure describes the overall LCD video controller */
@@ -432,13 +430,22 @@ static int sim_setcontrast(struct lcd_dev_s *dev, unsigned int contrast)
  * Name: sim_updatework
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-#ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
-static void sim_updatework(void *arg)
+void sim_x11loop(void)
 {
-  work_queue(LPWORK, &g_updatework, sim_updatework, NULL, MSEC2TICK(33));
-  sim_x11update();
-}
+#ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
+  if (g_planeinfo.buffer != NULL)
+    {
+      static clock_t last;
+      clock_t now = clock_systime_ticks();
+
+      if (now - last >= MSEC2TICK(16))
+        {
+          sim_x11update();
+          last = now;
+        }
+    }
 #endif
+}
 
 /****************************************************************************
  * Public Functions
@@ -462,14 +469,8 @@ int board_lcd_initialize(void)
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_SIM_X11FB
   ret = sim_x11initialize(CONFIG_SIM_FBWIDTH, CONFIG_SIM_FBHEIGHT,
-                         (void**)&g_planeinfo.buffer, &g_fblen,
-                         &g_planeinfo.bpp, &g_stride);
-
-  if (ret == OK)
-    {
-      work_queue(LPWORK, &g_updatework, sim_updatework, NULL, MSEC2TICK(33));
-    }
-
+                          (void**)&g_planeinfo.buffer, &g_fblen,
+                          &g_planeinfo.bpp, &g_stride);
 #endif
 
   return ret;