diff --git a/dll/dll/settings.h b/dll/dll/settings.h
index fc3b7719..0ca2c664 100644
--- a/dll/dll/settings.h
+++ b/dll/dll/settings.h
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ public:
     // allow stats not defined by the user?
     bool allow_unknown_stats = false;
 
+    // when a stat that's tied to an achievement gets a new value, should the emu save that progress only if it's higher?
+    // the stat itself is always saved regardless of that flag, obly affects the achievement progress
+    bool save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress = true;
+
     // bypass to make SetAchievement() always return true, prevent some games from breaking
     bool achievement_bypass = false;
 
diff --git a/dll/dll/steam_user_stats.h b/dll/dll/steam_user_stats.h
index 5821fdd7..5ea6ad48 100644
--- a/dll/dll/steam_user_stats.h
+++ b/dll/dll/steam_user_stats.h
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ struct Steam_Leaderboard {
 };
 
 struct achievement_trigger {
-    std::string name{};
+    std::string name{}; // defined achievement name
     std::string value_operation{};
-    std::string min_value{};
-    std::string max_value{};
+    std::string min_value{}; // min progress
+    std::string max_value{}; // max progress
 
     bool should_unlock_ach(float stat) const;
     bool should_unlock_ach(int32 stat) const;
diff --git a/dll/settings_parser.cpp b/dll/settings_parser.cpp
index 28c2dd89..99ca894f 100644
--- a/dll/settings_parser.cpp
+++ b/dll/settings_parser.cpp
@@ -1290,6 +1290,9 @@ static void parse_simple_features(class Settings *settings_client, class Setting
     settings_client->allow_unknown_stats = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "allow_unknown_stats", settings_client->allow_unknown_stats);
     settings_server->allow_unknown_stats = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "allow_unknown_stats", settings_server->allow_unknown_stats);
 
+    settings_client->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress", settings_client->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress);
+    settings_server->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress", settings_server->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress);
+
     settings_client->immediate_gameserver_stats = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "immediate_gameserver_stats", settings_client->immediate_gameserver_stats);
     settings_server->immediate_gameserver_stats = ini.GetBoolValue("main::general", "immediate_gameserver_stats", settings_server->immediate_gameserver_stats);
 
diff --git a/dll/steam_user_stats.cpp b/dll/steam_user_stats.cpp
index 1d9b5bfb..0ca4a3aa 100644
--- a/dll/steam_user_stats.cpp
+++ b/dll/steam_user_stats.cpp
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ Steam_User_Stats::InternalSetResult<int32> Steam_User_Stats::set_stat_internal(
     result.current_val = nData;
 
     auto cached_stat = stats_cache_int.find(stat_name);
-    if (cached_stat != stats_cache_int.end()) {
+    if (stats_cache_int.end() != cached_stat) {
         if (cached_stat->second == nData) {
             result.success = true;
             return result;
@@ -461,7 +461,26 @@ Steam_User_Stats::InternalSetResult<int32> Steam_User_Stats::set_stat_internal(
                 set_achievement_internal(t.name.c_str());
             }
             if (t.should_indicate_progress(nData)) {
-                IndicateAchievementProgress(t.name.c_str(), nData, std::stoi(t.max_value));
+                bool indicate_progress = true;
+                // appid 1482380 needs that otherwise it will spam progress indications while driving
+                if (settings->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress) {
+                    try {
+                        auto user_ach_it =  user_achievements.find(t.name);
+                        if (user_achievements.end() != user_ach_it) {
+                            auto user_progress_it = user_ach_it->find("progress");
+                            if (user_ach_it->end() != user_progress_it) {
+                                int32 user_progress = *user_progress_it;
+                                if (nData <= user_progress) {
+                                    indicate_progress = false;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } catch(...){}
+                }
+
+                if (indicate_progress) {
+                    IndicateAchievementProgress(t.name.c_str(), nData, std::stoi(t.max_value));
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -502,7 +521,7 @@ Steam_User_Stats::InternalSetResult<std::pair<GameServerStats_Messages::StatInfo
     result.current_val.second = fData;
 
     auto cached_stat = stats_cache_float.find(stat_name);
-    if (cached_stat != stats_cache_float.end()) {
+    if (stats_cache_float.end() != cached_stat) {
         if (cached_stat->second == fData) {
             result.success = true;
             return result;
@@ -516,7 +535,26 @@ Steam_User_Stats::InternalSetResult<std::pair<GameServerStats_Messages::StatInfo
                 set_achievement_internal(t.name.c_str());
             }
             if (t.should_indicate_progress(fData)) {
-                IndicateAchievementProgress(t.name.c_str(), fData, std::stof(t.max_value));
+                bool indicate_progress = true;
+                // appid 1482380 needs that otherwise it will spam progress indications while driving
+                if (settings->save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress) {
+                    try {
+                        auto user_ach_it =  user_achievements.find(t.name);
+                        if (user_achievements.end() != user_ach_it) {
+                            auto user_progress_it = user_ach_it->find("progress");
+                            if (user_ach_it->end() != user_progress_it) {
+                                float user_progress = *user_progress_it;
+                                if (fData <= user_progress) {
+                                    indicate_progress = false;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    } catch(...){}
+                }
+
+                if (indicate_progress) {
+                    IndicateAchievementProgress(t.name.c_str(), (uint32)fData, (uint32)std::stof(t.max_value));
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1353,10 +1391,10 @@ bool Steam_User_Stats::GetUserAchievementAndUnlockTime( CSteamID steamIDUser, co
 // Reset stats 
 bool Steam_User_Stats::ResetAllStats( bool bAchievementsToo )
 {
-    PRINT_DEBUG_ENTRY();
+    PRINT_DEBUG("bAchievementsToo = %i", (int)bAchievementsToo);
     std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> lock(global_mutex);
     
-    clear_stats_internal();
+    clear_stats_internal(); // this will save stats to disk if necessary
     if (!settings->disable_sharing_stats_with_gameserver) {
         for (const auto &stat : settings->getStats()) {
             std::string stat_name(common_helpers::ascii_to_lowercase(stat.first));
diff --git a/post_build/steam_settings.EXAMPLE/configs.main.EXAMPLE.ini b/post_build/steam_settings.EXAMPLE/configs.main.EXAMPLE.ini
index f1f30b5b..ff021287 100644
--- a/post_build/steam_settings.EXAMPLE/configs.main.EXAMPLE.ini
+++ b/post_build/steam_settings.EXAMPLE/configs.main.EXAMPLE.ini
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ disable_leaderboards_create_unknown=0
 # set this to 1 to allow unknown stats
 # default=0
 allow_unknown_stats=0
+# whenever a game updates a stat which is tied to an achievement progress, the emu will save that progress immediately
+# but some games will update the stat very frequently (with lower & higher values) resulting in a spam of disk writes or overlay notifications
+# set this to 0 to save any stat achievement progress value (higher or lower) 
+# this has no impact on the stat itself, only the achievement progress of a stat which is tied to an achievement
+# also has no impact on the functions which directly change stats, achievements, or achievements progress
+# default=1
+save_only_higher_stat_achievement_progress=1
 # synchronize user stats/achievements with game servers as soon as possible instead of caching them until the next call to `Steam_RunCallbacks()`
 # not recommended
 immediate_gameserver_stats=0