diff --git a/cheevos-new/cheevos.c b/cheevos-new/cheevos.c
index fc77092c07..52845ab668 100644
--- a/cheevos-new/cheevos.c
+++ b/cheevos-new/cheevos.c
@@ -952,6 +952,7 @@ bool rcheevos_unload(void)
       rcheevos_locals.lboards    = NULL;
 
       rcheevos_loaded            = false;
+      rcheevos_hardcore_active   = false;
       rcheevos_hardcore_paused   = false;
       rcheevos_state_loaded_flag = false;
    }
diff --git a/cheevos/cheevos.c b/cheevos/cheevos.c
index 8a05ca3499..1db9eb9130 100644
--- a/cheevos/cheevos.c
+++ b/cheevos/cheevos.c
@@ -2263,6 +2263,7 @@ bool cheevos_unload(void)
    cheevos_locals.unofficial.count   = 0;
 
    cheevos_loaded     = false;
+   cheevos_hardcore_active = false;
    cheevos_hardcore_paused = false;
    cheevos_state_loaded_flag = false;
 
@@ -2282,6 +2283,9 @@ bool cheevos_toggle_hardcore_mode(void)
       const char *msg = msg_hash_to_str(
             MSG_CHEEVOS_HARDCORE_MODE_ENABLE);
 
+      /* reset the state loaded flag in case it was set */
+      cheevos_state_loaded_flag = false;
+
       /* send reset core cmd to avoid any user
        * savestate previusly loaded. */
       command_event(CMD_EVENT_RESET, NULL);
diff --git a/command.c b/command.c
index 38456a7d79..918e57d358 100755
--- a/command.c
+++ b/command.c
@@ -1730,7 +1730,10 @@ static bool command_event_main_state(unsigned cmd)
             {
 #ifdef HAVE_CHEEVOS
                /* RCHEEVOS TODO: remove duplication below */
-               rcheevos_state_loaded_flag = cheevos_state_loaded_flag = true;
+               if (cheevos_hardcore_active)
+                  cheevos_state_loaded_flag = true;
+               if (rcheevos_hardcore_active)
+                  rcheevos_state_loaded_flag = true;
 #endif
                ret = true;
 #ifdef HAVE_NETWORKING
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 7085aceb36..a4d8986067 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -4167,12 +4167,11 @@ static enum runloop_state runloop_check_state(
    /* RCHEEVOS TODO: remove the 'rcheevos_*' below */
    rcheevos_hardcore_active = settings->bools.cheevos_enable
       && settings->bools.cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable
-      && rcheevos_loaded && rcheevos_hardcore_paused;
+      && rcheevos_loaded && !rcheevos_hardcore_paused;
 
    cheevos_hardcore_active = settings->bools.cheevos_enable
       && settings->bools.cheevos_hardcore_mode_enable
-      && cheevos_loaded && cheevos_hardcore_paused;
-
+      && cheevos_loaded && !cheevos_hardcore_paused;
    if (!settings->bools.cheevos_old_enable)
    {
       if (rcheevos_hardcore_active && rcheevos_state_loaded_flag)