diff --git a/Core/SaveState.cpp b/Core/SaveState.cpp
index db983922ca..1dee9fa660 100644
--- a/Core/SaveState.cpp
+++ b/Core/SaveState.cpp
@@ -197,16 +197,16 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	void Enqueue(const SaveState::Operation &op) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		// These two both refuse the operation, and both say so - dropping it silently just
+		// looks like the hotkey didn't work. Callers that ask the same questions themselves
+		// return before getting here, so nothing shows a message twice.
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return;
 		}
-		if (Achievements::HardcoreModeActive()) {
-			if (g_Config.bAchievementsSaveStateInHardcoreMode && ((op.type == SaveState::OperationType::Save))) {
-				// We allow saving in hardcore mode if this setting is on.
-			} else {
-				// Operation not allowed
-				return;
-			}
+		// Hardcore mode bans loading savestates outright, and saving too unless the user opted
+		// back into that.
+		if (Achievements::WarnUserIfHardcoreModeActive(op.type == OperationType::Save)) {
+			return;
 		}
 
 		std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(mutex);
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	void Load(const Path &filename, int slot, Callback callback) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	void Save(const Path &filename, int slot, Callback callback) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	void LoadSlot(std::string_view gamePrefix, int slot, Callback callback) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	bool UndoLoad(std::string_view gamePrefix, Callback callback) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	void SaveSlot(std::string_view gamePrefix, int slot, Callback callback) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	bool UndoSaveSlot(std::string_view gamePrefix, int slot) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 	}
 
 	bool UndoLastSave(std::string_view gamePrefix) {
-		if (!NetworkAllowSaveState()) {
+		if (NetworkWarnUserIfOnlineAndCantSavestate()) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -810,6 +810,16 @@ int g_screenshotFailures;
 		SaveStart state;
 
 		for (const auto &op : operations) {
+			// Re-check here, and not just in Enqueue: during boot, RetroAchievements is still
+			// identifying the game asynchronously, and until it's done hardcore mode doesn't
+			// read as active yet. An operation queued in that window (a hotkey press, --state,
+			// auto-load) passed the check in Enqueue and would otherwise be applied here, after
+			// identification has finished and hardcore mode has come up.
+			if (Achievements::WarnUserIfHardcoreModeActive(op.type == OperationType::Save)) {
+				WARN_LOG(Log::SaveState, "Dropping queued savestate operation - hardcore mode is active");
+				continue;
+			}
+
 			CChunkFileReader::Error result;
 			Status callbackResult;
 			std::string callbackMessage;
diff --git a/UI/DevScreens.cpp b/UI/DevScreens.cpp
index 5c43b5c25f..c652c919fa 100644
--- a/UI/DevScreens.cpp
+++ b/UI/DevScreens.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 #include "Core/ConfigValues.h"
 #include "Core/System.h"
 #include "Core/Reporting.h"
+#include "Core/RetroAchievements.h"
 #include "Core/CoreParameter.h"
 #include "Core/HLE/sceKernel.h"  // GPI/GPO
 #include "Core/MIPS/MIPSTables.h"
@@ -187,6 +188,10 @@ void DevMenuScreen::CreatePopupContents(UI::ViewGroup *parent) {
 	});
 
 	items->Add(new Choice(dev->T("Toggle Freeze")))->OnClick.Add([](UI::EventParams &e) {
+		// Freezing restores a savestate every frame, so it's not allowed in hardcore mode.
+		if (Achievements::WarnUserIfHardcoreModeActive(false)) {
+			return;
+		}
 		if (PSP_CoreParameter().frozen) {
 			PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = false;
 		} else {
diff --git a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
index 618ee0dd72..014db251d9 100644
--- a/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
+++ b/UI/EmuScreen.cpp
@@ -1709,8 +1709,14 @@ ScreenRenderFlags EmuScreen::RunEmulation(bool skipBufferEffects) {
 			gpu->BeginHostFrame(displayLayoutConfig);
 		}
 
-		// Freeze-frame functionality (loads a savestate on every frame).
-		if (PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext) {
+		// Freeze-frame functionality (loads a savestate on every frame). It's a savestate load
+		// like any other, so it's banned in hardcore mode - and checked here rather than only
+		// where it's toggled, since hardcore mode can come up after the fact, once the game
+		// has been identified.
+		if (Achievements::HardcoreModeActive()) {
+			PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext = false;
+			PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = false;
+		} else if (PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext) {
 			PSP_CoreParameter().frozen = true;
 			PSP_CoreParameter().freezeNext = false;
 			SaveState::SaveToRam(freezeState_);