Apparently it does so with mine too, I suppose a bug that won't be fixed. I think Alec is too busy to fix a single bug.
But why check a map when yer dying anyway? =D
Unless you have ADD:
OSHI, I AM DY-- Oh hey, where was that passageway again?
EDIT: Seriously though. I suppose it could be edited in the .lua files. If Naija's death is scripted in .lua anyway. It should be possible to just lock controls or at least hide the minimap with some sort of function.