diff --git a/emulators/fbalpha2012.yml b/emulators/fbalpha2012.yml
index c303790b..3fe7320c 100644
--- a/emulators/fbalpha2012.yml
+++ b/emulators/fbalpha2012.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ notes: |
 files:
   - name: "hiscore.dat"
     description: "High score persistence database"
+    load_from: save_dir
     required: false
     system: arcade
     source_ref: "svn-current/trunk/src/burn/hiscore.cpp:386-394, 411, svn-current/trunk/src/burn/burn.cpp:619"
diff --git a/emulators/fbalpha2012_cps3.yml b/emulators/fbalpha2012_cps3.yml
index 39489064..5e835ce7 100644
--- a/emulators/fbalpha2012_cps3.yml
+++ b/emulators/fbalpha2012_cps3.yml
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ notes: |
 files:
   - name: "hiscore.dat"
     description: "High score persistence database"
+    load_from: save_dir
     required: false
     source_ref: "svn-current/trunk/src/burn/hiscore.cpp:116-118"
     note: "Loaded from save directory (g_save_dir)"
diff --git a/tests/test_profile_checks.py b/tests/test_profile_checks.py
index 2e528be2..c9522dbf 100644
--- a/tests/test_profile_checks.py
+++ b/tests/test_profile_checks.py
@@ -360,5 +360,22 @@ class ClkMasterSystemBios(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(drops, {"MasterSystem/japanese-bios.sms"})
 
 
+class FbAlpha2012HiscoreFromSaveDir(unittest.TestCase):
+    """HiscoreInit opens <g_save_dir>/hiscore.dat in the libretro build
+    (svn-current/trunk/src/burn/hiscore.cpp:411 at 0ce31536, and :116 of the
+    CPS-3 core at 57f8015c). Read as a system file, the entry took the
+    bios/hiscore.dat slot that MAME cores read on RetroDECK and RetroBat."""
+
+    def test_hiscore_is_not_a_system_file(self):
+        from validation import read_from_system_dir
+
+        for emulator in ("fbalpha2012", "fbalpha2012_cps3"):
+            with self.subTest(emulator=emulator):
+                entry = next(
+                    f for f in _profile(emulator)["files"] if f["name"] == "hiscore.dat"
+                )
+                self.assertFalse(read_from_system_dir(entry))
+
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     unittest.main()