diff --git a/configuration.c b/configuration.c
index 8b8308c8ed..b694ca12e0 100644
--- a/configuration.c
+++ b/configuration.c
@@ -1896,7 +1896,7 @@ static struct config_bool_setting *populate_settings_bool(
 #ifdef HAVE_CHEEVOS
    SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_enable",               &settings->bools.cheevos_enable, true, DEFAULT_CHEEVOS_ENABLE, false);
    SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_test_unofficial",      &settings->bools.cheevos_test_unofficial, true, false, false);
-   SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable", &settings->bools.cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable, true, false, false);
+   SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable", &settings->bools.cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable, true, true, false);
    SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_challenge_indicators", &settings->bools.cheevos_challenge_indicators, true, true, false);
    SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_richpresence_enable",  &settings->bools.cheevos_richpresence_enable, true, true, false);
    SETTING_BOOL("cheevos_unlock_sound_enable",  &settings->bools.cheevos_unlock_sound_enable, true, false, false);
diff --git a/intl/msg_hash_us.h b/intl/msg_hash_us.h
index a3f9be0def..0042fa7cec 100644
--- a/intl/msg_hash_us.h
+++ b/intl/msg_hash_us.h
@@ -12254,6 +12254,10 @@ MSG_HASH(
    MSG_FAILED_TO_RECEIVE_HEADER_FROM_HOST,
    "Failed to receive header from host"
    )
+MSG_HASH(
+   MSG_CHEEVOS_LOAD_STATE_PREVENTED_BY_HARDCORE_MODE,
+   "You must pause or disable Achievements Hardcore Mode to load states."
+   )
 MSG_HASH(
    MSG_CHEEVOS_HARDCORE_MODE_DISABLED,
    "A save state was loaded. Achievements Hardcore Mode disabled for the current session."
diff --git a/menu/menu_displaylist.c b/menu/menu_displaylist.c
index 76665a4747..18886ae8ae 100644
--- a/menu/menu_displaylist.c
+++ b/menu/menu_displaylist.c
@@ -2934,17 +2934,12 @@ static int menu_displaylist_parse_load_content_settings(
                MENU_SETTING_ACTION_SAVESTATE, 0, 0))
             count++;
 
-#ifdef HAVE_CHEEVOS
-         if (!rcheevos_hardcore_active())
-#endif
-         {
-            if (menu_entries_append_enum(list,
-                  msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_LOAD_STATE),
-                  msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_LOAD_STATE),
-                  MENU_ENUM_LABEL_LOAD_STATE,
-                  MENU_SETTING_ACTION_LOADSTATE, 0, 0))
-               count++;
-         }
+         if (menu_entries_append_enum(list,
+               msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_LOAD_STATE),
+               msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_LOAD_STATE),
+               MENU_ENUM_LABEL_LOAD_STATE,
+               MENU_SETTING_ACTION_LOADSTATE, 0, 0))
+            count++;
       }
 
       if (settings->bools.quick_menu_show_save_load_state &&
diff --git a/msg_hash.h b/msg_hash.h
index 5becdb19e6..1664ddac3d 100644
--- a/msg_hash.h
+++ b/msg_hash.h
@@ -3165,6 +3165,7 @@ enum msg_hash_enums
    MSG_CHEAT_SEARCH_ADD_MATCH_SUCCESS,
    MSG_CHEAT_SEARCH_ADD_MATCH_FAIL,
    MSG_CHEAT_SEARCH_DELETE_MATCH_SUCCESS,
+   MSG_CHEEVOS_LOAD_STATE_PREVENTED_BY_HARDCORE_MODE,
    MSG_CHEEVOS_HARDCORE_MODE_DISABLED,
    MSG_CHEEVOS_HARDCORE_MODE_DISABLED_CHEAT,
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_TIMEDATE_YMD_HMS,
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 341e9f4a4e..08d0d6c56d 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -1767,7 +1767,10 @@ bool command_event(enum event_command cmd, void *data)
 
 #ifdef HAVE_CHEEVOS
             if (rcheevos_hardcore_active())
+            {
+               runloop_msg_queue_push(msg_hash_to_str(MSG_CHEEVOS_LOAD_STATE_PREVENTED_BY_HARDCORE_MODE), 0, 180, true, NULL, MESSAGE_QUEUE_ICON_DEFAULT, MESSAGE_QUEUE_CATEGORY_WARNING);
                return false;
+            }
 #endif
             if (!command_event_main_state(cmd))
                return false;