diff --git a/Core/Core.cpp b/Core/Core.cpp
index 2032b53606..cfa25cf1df 100644
--- a/Core/Core.cpp
+++ b/Core/Core.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
 
 #include "Core/Debugger/Breakpoints.h"
 
+// Time until we stop considering the core active without user input.
+// Should this be configurable?  2 hours currently.
+static const double ACTIVITY_IDLE_TIMEOUT = 2.0 * 3600.0;
+
 static event m_hStepEvent;
 static recursive_mutex m_hStepMutex;
 static event m_hInactiveEvent;
@@ -49,6 +53,8 @@ static recursive_mutex m_hInactiveMutex;
 static bool singleStepPending = false;
 static std::set<Core_ShutdownFunc> shutdownFuncs;
 static bool windowHidden = false;
+static double lastActivity = 0.0;
+static double lastKeepAwake = 0.0;
 
 #ifdef _WIN32
 InputState input_state;
@@ -61,6 +67,10 @@ void Core_NotifyWindowHidden(bool hidden) {
 	// TODO: Wait until we can react?
 }
 
+void Core_NotifyActivity() {
+	lastActivity = time_now_d();
+}
+
 void Core_ListenShutdown(Core_ShutdownFunc func) {
 	shutdownFuncs.insert(func);
 }
@@ -200,6 +210,17 @@ void Core_RunLoop() {
 #if defined(USING_WIN_UI)
 		if (!windowHidden && !Core_IsStepping()) {
 			GPU_SwapBuffers();
+
+			// Keep the system awake for longer than normal for cutscenes and the like.
+			const double now = time_now_d();
+			if (now < lastActivity + ACTIVITY_IDLE_TIMEOUT) {
+				// Only resetting it ever prime number seconds in case the call is expensive.
+				// Using a prime number to ensure there's no interaction with other periodic events.
+				if (now - lastKeepAwake > 89.0 || now < lastKeepAwake) {
+					SetThreadExecutionState(ES_SYSTEM_REQUIRED | ES_DISPLAY_REQUIRED);
+					lastKeepAwake = now;
+				}
+			}
 		}
 #endif
 	}
diff --git a/Core/Core.h b/Core/Core.h
index abe844e538..301cd3e8c7 100644
--- a/Core/Core.h
+++ b/Core/Core.h
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ bool UpdateScreenScale(int width, int height);
 
 // Don't run the core when minimized etc.
 void Core_NotifyWindowHidden(bool hidden);
-
+void Core_NotifyActivity();
diff --git a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
index b44c41d20b..06e7fa02bb 100644
--- a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
@@ -285,6 +285,8 @@ inline float clamp1(float x) {
 }
 
 bool EmuScreen::touch(const TouchInput &touch) {
+	Core_NotifyActivity();
+
 	if (root_) {
 		root_->Touch(touch);
 		return true;
@@ -427,6 +429,8 @@ inline void EmuScreen::setVKeyAnalogY(int stick, int virtualKeyMin, int virtualK
 }
 
 bool EmuScreen::key(const KeyInput &key) {
+	Core_NotifyActivity();
+
 	std::vector<int> pspKeys;
 	KeyMap::KeyToPspButton(key.deviceId, key.keyCode, &pspKeys);
 
@@ -470,6 +474,8 @@ void EmuScreen::pspKey(int pspKeyCode, int flags) {
 }
 
 bool EmuScreen::axis(const AxisInput &axis) {
+	Core_NotifyActivity();
+
 	if (axis.value > 0) {
 		processAxis(axis, 1);
 		return true;