diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
index c4cd632221b3..959cf3b45d33 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ void AchievementManager::Init()
   LoadDefaultBadges();
   if (!m_client && Config::Get(Config::RA_ENABLED))
   {
-    m_client = rc_client_create(MemoryPeeker, Request);
+    {
+      std::lock_guard lg{m_client_lock};
+      m_client = rc_client_create(MemoryPeeker, Request);
+    }
     std::string host_url = Config::Get(Config::RA_HOST_URL);
     if (!host_url.empty())
       rc_client_set_host(m_client, host_url.c_str());
@@ -239,6 +242,38 @@ void AchievementManager::DoFrame()
   }
 }
 
+bool AchievementManager::CanPause()
+{
+  u32 frames_to_next_pause = 0;
+  bool can_pause = rc_client_can_pause(m_client, &frames_to_next_pause);
+  if (!can_pause)
+  {
+    OSD::AddMessage("Cannot spam pausing in hardcore mode.", OSD::Duration::VERY_LONG,
+                    OSD::Color::RED);
+    OSD::AddMessage(
+        fmt::format("Can pause in {} seconds.", static_cast<float>(frames_to_next_pause) / 60),
+        OSD::Duration::VERY_LONG, OSD::Color::RED);
+  }
+  return can_pause;
+}
+
+void AchievementManager::DoIdle()
+{
+  m_idle_thread = std::make_unique<std::thread>([]() {
+    while (Core::GetState(*AchievementManager::GetInstance().m_system) == Core::State::Paused)
+    {
+      Common::SleepCurrentThread(1000);
+      std::lock_guard lg{AchievementManager::GetInstance().m_client_lock};
+      auto* client = AchievementManager::GetInstance().m_client;
+      if (!client || !AchievementManager::GetInstance().IsGameLoaded())
+        return;
+      rc_client_idle(client);
+      INFO_LOG_FMT(ACHIEVEMENTS, "Beep");
+    }
+  });
+  m_idle_thread->detach();
+}
+
 std::recursive_mutex& AchievementManager::GetLock()
 {
   return m_lock;
@@ -426,8 +461,8 @@ void AchievementManager::CloseGame()
 void AchievementManager::Logout()
 {
   {
-    std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
     CloseGame();
+    std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
     m_player_badge.width = 0;
     m_player_badge.height = 0;
     m_player_badge.data.clear();
@@ -443,6 +478,7 @@ void AchievementManager::Shutdown()
   if (m_client)
   {
     CloseGame();
+    std::lock_guard lg{m_client_lock};
     m_queue.Shutdown();
     // DON'T log out - keep those credentials for next run.
     rc_client_destroy(m_client);
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
index a86abeab13c5..54ac1c0ed71f 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ class AchievementManager
 
   void DoFrame();
 
+  bool CanPause();
+  void DoIdle();
+
   std::recursive_mutex& GetLock();
   void SetHardcoreMode();
   bool IsHardcoreModeActive() const;
@@ -201,6 +204,7 @@ class AchievementManager
   std::unordered_map<AchievementId, Badge> m_locked_badges;
   RichPresence m_rich_presence;
   std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point m_last_rp_time = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
+  std::unique_ptr<std::thread> m_idle_thread = nullptr;
   std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point m_last_progress_message = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
 
   std::unordered_map<AchievementId, LeaderboardStatus> m_leaderboard_map;
@@ -210,6 +214,7 @@ class AchievementManager
   Common::WorkQueueThread<std::function<void()>> m_queue;
   Common::WorkQueueThread<std::function<void()>> m_image_queue;
   mutable std::recursive_mutex m_lock;
+  mutable std::recursive_mutex m_client_lock;
   std::recursive_mutex m_filereader_lock;
 };  // class AchievementManager
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
index f28a41f83623..4d0e390c19cd 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ static void EmuThread(Core::System& system, std::unique_ptr<BootParameters> boot
   system.GetPowerPC().SetMode(PowerPC::CoreMode::Interpreter);
 
   // Determine the CPU thread function
-  void (*cpuThreadFunc)(Core::System & system, const std::optional<std::string>& savestate_path,
+  void (*cpuThreadFunc)(Core::System& system, const std::optional<std::string>& savestate_path,
                         bool delete_savestate);
   if (std::holds_alternative<BootParameters::DFF>(boot->parameters))
     cpuThreadFunc = FifoPlayerThread;
@@ -698,7 +698,8 @@ static void EmuThread(Core::System& system, std::unique_ptr<BootParameters> boot
 
 // Set or get the running state
 
-void SetState(Core::System& system, State state, bool report_state_change)
+void SetState(Core::System& system, State state, bool report_state_change,
+              bool initial_execution_state)
 {
   // State cannot be controlled until the CPU Thread is operational
   if (!IsRunningAndStarted())
@@ -707,11 +708,18 @@ void SetState(Core::System& system, State state, bool report_state_change)
   switch (state)
   {
   case State::Paused:
+#ifdef USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
+    if (!initial_execution_state && !AchievementManager::GetInstance().CanPause())
+      return;
+#endif  // USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
     // NOTE: GetState() will return State::Paused immediately, even before anything has
     //   stopped (including the CPU).
     system.GetCPU().EnableStepping(true);  // Break
     Wiimote::Pause();
     ResetRumble();
+#ifdef USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
+    AchievementManager::GetInstance().DoIdle();
+#endif  // USE_RETRO_ACHIEVEMENTS
     break;
   case State::Running:
   {
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Core.h b/Source/Core/Core/Core.h
index 980d336750c5..a9b55dd6a277 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Core.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Core.h
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ bool IsHostThread();
 bool WantsDeterminism();
 
 // [NOT THREADSAFE] For use by Host only
-void SetState(Core::System& system, State state, bool report_state_change = true);
+void SetState(Core::System& system, State state, bool report_state_change = true,
+              bool initial_execution_state = false);
 State GetState(Core::System& system);
 
 void SaveScreenShot();