diff --git a/src/System.Windows.Forms/System/Windows/Forms/Layout/Containers/SplitContainer.cs b/src/System.Windows.Forms/System/Windows/Forms/Layout/Containers/SplitContainer.cs
index dbb1dded2f1..5fca905c8d4 100644
--- a/src/System.Windows.Forms/System/Windows/Forms/Layout/Containers/SplitContainer.cs
+++ b/src/System.Windows.Forms/System/Windows/Forms/Layout/Containers/SplitContainer.cs
@@ -1550,16 +1550,25 @@ private void RepaintSplitterRect()
     {
         if (IsHandleCreated)
         {
-            using Graphics g = CreateGraphicsInternal();
-            if (BackgroundImage is not null)
+            try
             {
-                using TextureBrush textureBrush = new(BackgroundImage, WrapMode.Tile);
-                g.FillRectangle(textureBrush, ClientRectangle);
+                using Graphics g = CreateGraphicsInternal();
+                if (BackgroundImage is not null)
+                {
+                    using TextureBrush textureBrush = new(BackgroundImage, WrapMode.Tile);
+                    g.FillRectangle(textureBrush, ClientRectangle);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    using var solidBrush = BackColor.GetCachedSolidBrushScope();
+                    g.FillRectangle(solidBrush, _splitterRect);
+                }
             }
-            else
+            catch (ExternalException ex)
             {
-                using var solidBrush = BackColor.GetCachedSolidBrushScope();
-                g.FillRectangle(solidBrush, _splitterRect);
+                // GDI+ can transiently fail while the display session is transitioning (for example, lock/unlock).
+                // Ignore repaint failures here and let normal painting recover once graphics resources are available.
+                Debug.Fail($"{nameof(RepaintSplitterRect)} failed with hr={ex.ErrorCode}, message={ex}");
             }
         }
     }