diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/Config.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/Config.cs
index 8a21ec71b5..467d1301e8 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/Config.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/Config.cs
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@
         public bool StartPaused = false;
         public int MainWndx = -1; //Negative numbers will be ignored
         public int MainWndy = -1;
+        public bool RunInBackground = true;
 
 		// Run-Control settings
 		public int FrameProgressDelayMs = 500; //how long until a frame advance hold turns into a frame progress?
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.Designer.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.Designer.cs
index 04054950a2..e36d9a01a9 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.Designer.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.Designer.cs
@@ -188,6 +188,7 @@
             this.aboutToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
             this.statusStrip1 = new System.Windows.Forms.StatusStrip();
             this.EmuStatus = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripStatusLabel();
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem = new System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem();
             this.menuStrip1.SuspendLayout();
             this.statusStrip1.SuspendLayout();
             this.SuspendLayout();
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@
             // openROMToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.openROMToolStripMenuItem.Name = "openROMToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.openROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.openROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.openROMToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Open ROM";
             this.openROMToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.openROMToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@
             this.clearToolStripMenuItem,
             this.autoloadMostRecentToolStripMenuItem});
             this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem.Name = "recentROMToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Recent ROM";
             this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.recentROMToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -279,14 +280,14 @@
             // closeROMToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem.Name = "closeROMToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Close ROM";
             this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.closeROMToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // toolStripMenuItem1
             // 
             this.toolStripMenuItem1.Name = "toolStripMenuItem1";
-            this.toolStripMenuItem1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
+            this.toolStripMenuItem1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(142, 6);
             // 
             // saveStateToolStripMenuItem
             // 
@@ -304,7 +305,7 @@
             this.toolStripSeparator6,
             this.saveNamedStateToolStripMenuItem});
             this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem.Name = "saveStateToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Save State";
             this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.saveStateToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -406,7 +407,7 @@
             this.toolStripSeparator7,
             this.loadNamedStateToolStripMenuItem});
             this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem.Name = "loadStateToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Load State";
             this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.loadStateToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -511,7 +512,7 @@
             this.saveToCurrentSlotToolStripMenuItem,
             this.loadCurrentSlotToolStripMenuItem});
             this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem.Name = "saveSlotToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem.Text = "SaveSlot";
             this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.saveSlotToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -621,7 +622,7 @@
             // toolStripMenuItem2
             // 
             this.toolStripMenuItem2.Name = "toolStripMenuItem2";
-            this.toolStripMenuItem2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
+            this.toolStripMenuItem2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(142, 6);
             // 
             // movieToolStripMenuItem
             // 
@@ -636,7 +637,7 @@
             this.toolStripSeparator14,
             this.replayInputLogToolStripMenuItem});
             this.movieToolStripMenuItem.Name = "movieToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.movieToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.movieToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.movieToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Movie";
             this.movieToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.movieToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -733,7 +734,7 @@
             this.screenshotF12ToolStripMenuItem,
             this.screenshotAsToolStripMenuItem});
             this.screenshotToolStripMenuItem.Name = "screenshotToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.screenshotToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.screenshotToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.screenshotToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Screenshot";
             // 
             // screenshotF12ToolStripMenuItem
@@ -753,13 +754,13 @@
             // toolStripSeparator4
             // 
             this.toolStripSeparator4.Name = "toolStripSeparator4";
-            this.toolStripSeparator4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
+            this.toolStripSeparator4.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(142, 6);
             // 
             // exitToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Name = "exitToolStripMenuItem";
             this.exitToolStripMenuItem.ShortcutKeys = ((System.Windows.Forms.Keys)((System.Windows.Forms.Keys.Alt | System.Windows.Forms.Keys.F4)));
-            this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
+            this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(145, 22);
             this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Exit";
             this.exitToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.exitToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
@@ -978,40 +979,40 @@
             // controllersToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.controllersToolStripMenuItem.Name = "controllersToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.controllersToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.controllersToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.controllersToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Controllers...";
             this.controllersToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.controllersToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // hotkeysToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem.Name = "hotkeysToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Hotkeys...";
             this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.hotkeysToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // messagesToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.messagesToolStripMenuItem.Name = "messagesToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.messagesToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.messagesToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.messagesToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Messages...";
             this.messagesToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.messagesToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // pathsToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.pathsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "pathsToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.pathsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.pathsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.pathsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Paths...";
             this.pathsToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.pathsToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // toolStripSeparator9
             // 
             this.toolStripSeparator9.Name = "toolStripSeparator9";
-            this.toolStripSeparator9.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(146, 6);
+            this.toolStripSeparator9.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
             // 
             // soundToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.soundToolStripMenuItem.Name = "soundToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.soundToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.soundToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.soundToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Sound";
             this.soundToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.soundToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
@@ -1022,9 +1023,10 @@
             this.saveWindowPositionToolStripMenuItem,
             this.startPausedToolStripMenuItem,
             this.enableRewindToolStripMenuItem,
-            this.forceGDIPPresentationToolStripMenuItem});
+            this.forceGDIPPresentationToolStripMenuItem,
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem});
             this.gUIToolStripMenuItem.Name = "gUIToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.gUIToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.gUIToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.gUIToolStripMenuItem.Text = "GUI";
             this.gUIToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.gUIToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -1087,7 +1089,7 @@
             this.miSpeed150,
             this.miSpeed200});
             this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem.Name = "frameSkipToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Speed/Skip";
             this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem.DropDownOpened += new System.EventHandler(this.frameSkipToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened);
             // 
@@ -1230,19 +1232,19 @@
             // toolStripSeparator10
             // 
             this.toolStripSeparator10.Name = "toolStripSeparator10";
-            this.toolStripSeparator10.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(146, 6);
+            this.toolStripSeparator10.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
             // 
             // saveConfigToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem.Name = "saveConfigToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Save Config";
             this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.saveConfigToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // loadConfigToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.loadConfigToolStripMenuItem.Name = "loadConfigToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.loadConfigToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 22);
+            this.loadConfigToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.loadConfigToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Load Config";
             // 
             // toolsToolStripMenuItem
@@ -1265,59 +1267,59 @@
             // toolBoxToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem.Name = "toolBoxToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Tool Box";
             this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.toolBoxToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // toolStripSeparator12
             // 
             this.toolStripSeparator12.Name = "toolStripSeparator12";
-            this.toolStripSeparator12.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(140, 6);
+            this.toolStripSeparator12.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
             // 
             // rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem.Name = "rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem.Text = "RAM &Watch";
             this.rAMWatchToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.RAMWatchToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem.Name = "rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem.Text = "RAM &Search";
             this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.rAMSearchToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem.Name = "rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem.Text = "RAM &Poke";
             this.rAMPokeToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.RAMPokeToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // hexEditorToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem.Name = "hexEditorToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem.Text = "&Hex Editor";
             this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.hexEditorToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // toolStripSeparator11
             // 
             this.toolStripSeparator11.Name = "toolStripSeparator11";
-            this.toolStripSeparator11.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(140, 6);
+            this.toolStripSeparator11.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(149, 6);
             // 
             // luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem.Name = "luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Lua Console";
             this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.luaConsoleToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
             // cheatsToolStripMenuItem
             // 
             this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem.Name = "cheatsToolStripMenuItem";
-            this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 22);
+            this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(152, 22);
             this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Cheats";
             this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.cheatsToolStripMenuItem_Click);
             // 
@@ -1443,6 +1445,13 @@
             this.EmuStatus.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(143, 17);
             this.EmuStatus.Text = "Currently emulating: ur mom";
             // 
+            // runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem
+            // 
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem.Name = "runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem";
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(220, 22);
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem.Text = "Run in Background";
+            this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem.Click += new System.EventHandler(this.runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem_Click);
+            // 
             // MainForm
             // 
             this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 14F);
@@ -1457,8 +1466,10 @@
             this.MaximizeBox = false;
             this.Name = "MainForm";
             this.Text = "BizHawk";
+            this.Deactivate += new System.EventHandler(this.MainForm_Deactivate);
             this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.MainForm_Load);
             this.Shown += new System.EventHandler(this.MainForm_Shown);
+            this.Activated += new System.EventHandler(this.MainForm_Activated);
             this.menuStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);
             this.menuStrip1.PerformLayout();
             this.statusStrip1.ResumeLayout(false);
@@ -1629,6 +1640,7 @@
         private System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem screenshotToolStripMenuItem;
         private System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem screenshotF12ToolStripMenuItem;
         private System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem screenshotAsToolStripMenuItem;
+        private System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripMenuItem runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
index e46344819a..1d8f50f517 100644
--- a/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.MultiClient/MainForm.cs
@@ -1664,7 +1664,8 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
 
 		private void gUIToolStripMenuItem_DropDownOpened(object sender, EventArgs e)
 		{
-			pauseWhenMenuActivatedToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.PauseWhenMenuActivated;
+            runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.RunInBackground;
+            pauseWhenMenuActivatedToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.PauseWhenMenuActivated;
 			saveWindowPositionToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.SaveWindowPosition;
 			startPausedToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.StartPaused;
             enableRewindToolStripMenuItem.Checked = Global.Config.RewindEnabled;
@@ -1914,5 +1915,22 @@ namespace BizHawk.MultiClient
             else
                 RamWatch1.Focus();
         }
+
+        private void MainForm_Deactivate(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            if (!Global.Config.RunInBackground)
+                PauseEmulator();
+        }
+
+        private void MainForm_Activated(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            if (!Global.Config.RunInBackground)
+                UnpauseEmulator();
+        }
+
+        private void runInBackgroundToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
+        {
+            Global.Config.RunInBackground ^= true;
+        }
 	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file