diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
index 8227df450b..223b13a209 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "Core/Config/AchievementSettings.h"
 #include "Core/Core.h"
 #include "Core/HW/Memmap.h"
+#include "Core/HW/VideoInterface.h"
 #include "Core/PowerPC/MMU.h"
 #include "Core/System.h"
 #include "DiscIO/Blob.h"
@@ -46,7 +47,10 @@ void AchievementManager::Init()
   LoadDefaultBadges();
   if (!m_client && Config::Get(Config::RA_ENABLED))
   {
-    m_client = rc_client_create(MemoryVerifier, Request);
+    {
+      std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
+      m_client = rc_client_create(MemoryVerifier, 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());
@@ -160,6 +164,9 @@ bool AchievementManager::IsGameLoaded() const
 
 void AchievementManager::SetBackgroundExecutionAllowed(bool allowed)
 {
+  m_background_execution_allowed = allowed;
+  if (allowed && Core::GetState(*AchievementManager::GetInstance().m_system) == Core::State::Paused)
+    DoIdle();
 }
 
 void AchievementManager::FetchPlayerBadge()
@@ -246,6 +253,54 @@ 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) /
+                        Core::System::GetInstance().GetVideoInterface().GetTargetRefreshRate()),
+        OSD::Duration::VERY_LONG, OSD::Color::RED);
+  }
+  return can_pause;
+}
+
+void AchievementManager::DoIdle()
+{
+  std::thread([this]() {
+    while (true)
+    {
+      Common::SleepCurrentThread(1000);
+      {
+        std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
+        if (!m_system || Core::GetState(*m_system) != Core::State::Paused)
+          return;
+        if (!m_background_execution_allowed)
+          return;
+        if (!m_client || !IsGameLoaded())
+          return;
+      }
+      // rc_client_idle peeks at memory to recalculate rich presence and therefore
+      // needs to be on host or CPU thread to access memory.
+      Core::QueueHostJob([this](Core::System& system) {
+        std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
+        if (!m_system || Core::GetState(*m_system) != Core::State::Paused)
+          return;
+        if (!m_background_execution_allowed)
+          return;
+        if (!m_client || !IsGameLoaded())
+          return;
+        rc_client_idle(m_client);
+      });
+    }
+  }).detach();
+}
+
 std::recursive_mutex& AchievementManager::GetLock()
 {
   return m_lock;
@@ -444,8 +499,8 @@ 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();
@@ -462,6 +517,7 @@ void AchievementManager::Shutdown()
   {
     CloseGame();
     m_queue.Shutdown();
+    std::lock_guard lg{m_lock};
     // DON'T log out - keep those credentials for next run.
     rc_client_destroy(m_client);
     m_client = nullptr;
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
index 935b4c0948..f8ce568e62 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/AchievementManager.h
@@ -103,6 +103,9 @@ public:
 
   void DoFrame();
 
+  bool CanPause();
+  void DoIdle();
+
   std::recursive_mutex& GetLock();
   void SetHardcoreMode();
   bool IsHardcoreModeActive() const;
@@ -194,6 +197,7 @@ private:
   Badge m_default_game_badge;
   Badge m_default_unlocked_badge;
   Badge m_default_locked_badge;
+  std::atomic_bool m_background_execution_allowed = true;
   Badge m_player_badge;
   Hash m_game_hash{};
   u32 m_game_id = 0;
diff --git a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
index de791d620c..572aeb0dcd 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Core.cpp
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ static void CPUSetInitialExecutionState(bool force_paused = false)
   // SetState must be called on the host thread, so we defer it for later.
   QueueHostJob([force_paused](Core::System& system) {
     bool paused = SConfig::GetInstance().bBootToPause || force_paused;
-    SetState(system, paused ? State::Paused : State::Running);
+    SetState(system, paused ? State::Paused : State::Running, true, true);
     Host_UpdateDisasmDialog();
     Host_UpdateMainFrame();
     Host_Message(HostMessageID::WMUserCreate);
@@ -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 (s_state.load() != State::Running)
@@ -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 cf30cf3866..0b414534a5 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Core/Core.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Core/Core.h
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ 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();