diff --git a/src/g_gamedata.cpp b/src/g_gamedata.cpp
index d95b3796e..b8f54656d 100644
--- a/src/g_gamedata.cpp
+++ b/src/g_gamedata.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ void srb2::save_ng_gamedata()
 	ng.playtime.special = gamedata->modeplaytime[GDGT_SPECIAL];
 	ng.playtime.custom = gamedata->modeplaytime[GDGT_CUSTOM];
 	ng.playtime.menus = gamedata->totalmenutime;
+	ng.playtime.statistics = gamedata->totaltimestaringatstatistics;
 	ng.rings.total = gamedata->totalrings;
 	ng.playtime.tumble = gamedata->totaltumbletime;
 	ng.rounds.race = gamedata->roundsplayed[GDGT_RACE];
@@ -434,6 +435,7 @@ void srb2::load_ng_gamedata()
 	gamedata->modeplaytime[GDGT_SPECIAL] = js.playtime.special;
 	gamedata->modeplaytime[GDGT_CUSTOM] = js.playtime.custom;
 	gamedata->totalmenutime = js.playtime.menus;
+	gamedata->totaltimestaringatstatistics = js.playtime.statistics;
 	gamedata->totalrings = js.rings.total;
 	gamedata->totaltumbletime = js.playtime.tumble;
 	gamedata->roundsplayed[GDGT_RACE] = js.rounds.race;
diff --git a/src/g_gamedata.h b/src/g_gamedata.h
index 0b34c477a..1c7260c81 100644
--- a/src/g_gamedata.h
+++ b/src/g_gamedata.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ struct GamedataPlaytimeJson final
 	uint32_t special;
 	uint32_t custom;
 	uint32_t menus;
+	uint32_t statistics;
 	uint32_t tumble;
 
 	NLOHMANN_DEFINE_TYPE_INTRUSIVE_WITH_DEFAULT(
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ struct GamedataPlaytimeJson final
 		special,
 		custom,
 		menus,
+		statistics,
 		tumble
 	)
 };
diff --git a/src/m_cond.c b/src/m_cond.c
index e113d0b9f..019f10ada 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.c
+++ b/src/m_cond.c
@@ -655,6 +655,7 @@ void M_ClearStats(void)
 	for (i = 0; i < GDGT_MAX; ++i)
 		gamedata->modeplaytime[i] = 0;
 	gamedata->totalmenutime = 0;
+	gamedata->totaltimestaringatstatistics = 0;
 	gamedata->totalrings = 0;
 	gamedata->totaltumbletime = 0;
 	for (i = 0; i < GDGT_MAX; ++i)
diff --git a/src/m_cond.h b/src/m_cond.h
index c90877383..25abd437b 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.h
+++ b/src/m_cond.h
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ struct gamedata_t
 	UINT32 totalplaytime;
 	UINT32 modeplaytime[GDGT_MAX];
 	UINT32 totalmenutime;
+	UINT32 totaltimestaringatstatistics;
 	UINT32 roundsplayed[GDGT_MAX];
 	UINT32 totalrings;
 	UINT32 totaltumbletime;
diff --git a/src/menus/extras-challenges.c b/src/menus/extras-challenges.c
index dfc0bd69e..dc488f953 100644
--- a/src/menus/extras-challenges.c
+++ b/src/menus/extras-challenges.c
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@
 extern consvar_t cv_debugchallenges;
 #endif
 
+static void M_StatisticsTicker(void)
+{
+	// the funny
+	gamedata->totaltimestaringatstatistics++;
+}
+
 menuitem_t MISC_ChallengesStatsDummyMenu[] =
 {
 	{IT_STRING | IT_CALL, "Back", NULL, NULL, {.routine = M_GoBack}, 0, 0},
@@ -60,7 +66,7 @@ menu_t MISC_StatisticsDef = {
 	98, 0,
 	M_DrawStatistics,
 	M_DrawExtrasBack,
-	NULL,
+	M_StatisticsTicker,
 	NULL,
 	NULL,
 	M_StatisticsInputs,