diff --git a/autosave.lua b/autosave.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2c2e9db95a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/autosave.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+-- Automatically save the game on a real-time schedule.
+--@module = true
+--@enable = true
+
+local argparse = require('argparse')
+local json = require('json')
+local utils = require('utils')
+
+local GLOBAL_KEY = 'autosave' -- used for state change hooks and persistence
+local CONFIG_FILE_PATH = 'dfhack-config/autosave.json'
+
+local DEFAULT_INTERVAL_MINUTES = 30
+
+-- how often (in rendered frames) to check whether a save is due. rendered
+-- frames keep ticking while the game is paused, so the interval stays in
+-- real time
+local POLL_FRAMES = 100
+
+local function get_default_state()
+    return {
+        enabled=false,
+    }
+end
+
+state = state or get_default_state()
+config = config or json.open(CONFIG_FILE_PATH)
+
+function isEnabled()
+    return state.enabled
+end
+
+local function persist_state()
+    dfhack.persistent.saveSiteData(GLOBAL_KEY, state)
+end
+
+local function get_interval_minutes()
+    return config.data.interval_minutes or DEFAULT_INTERVAL_MINUTES
+end
+
+-- a save is in flight from when it is requested until the saver finishes;
+-- save_progress.substage keeps its final value (Finishing) after completion
+local function is_save_in_progress()
+    local main = df.global.plotinfo.main
+    return main.autosave_request or
+        (main.save_progress.substage >= df.save_substage.Initializing and
+         main.save_progress.substage < df.save_substage.Finishing)
+end
+
+local function save_now()
+    dfhack.run_script('quicksave')
+end
+
+local function event_loop()
+    if not state.enabled then return end
+
+    if dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() >= get_interval_minutes() * 60 and
+            dfhack.isMapLoaded() and dfhack.world.isFortressMode() and
+            not is_save_in_progress() then
+        save_now()
+    end
+
+    timeout_id = dfhack.timeout(POLL_FRAMES, 'frames', event_loop)
+end
+
+local function do_enable()
+    if state.enabled then return end
+    state.enabled = true
+    event_loop()
+end
+
+local function do_disable()
+    if not state.enabled then return end
+    state.enabled = false
+    if timeout_id then
+        dfhack.timeout_active(timeout_id, nil) -- cancel callback
+        timeout_id = nil
+    end
+end
+
+dfhack.onStateChange[GLOBAL_KEY] = function(sc)
+    if sc == SC_MAP_UNLOADED then
+        do_disable()
+        return
+    end
+
+    if sc ~= SC_MAP_LOADED then
+        return
+    end
+
+    state = get_default_state()
+    utils.assign(state, dfhack.persistent.getSiteData(GLOBAL_KEY, state))
+    event_loop()
+end
+
+local function status()
+    print(('autosave is %s'):format(state.enabled and 'enabled' or 'disabled'))
+    local interval = get_interval_minutes()
+    print(('autosave interval: %s minute%s'):format(
+        interval, interval == 1 and '' or 's'))
+    if dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+        local unsaved_min = dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() // 60
+        print(('time since last save: %d minute%s'):format(
+            unsaved_min, unsaved_min == 1 and '' or 's'))
+    end
+end
+
+if dfhack_flags.module then
+    return
+end
+
+if dfhack_flags.enable then
+    if dfhack_flags.enable_state then
+        do_enable()
+    else
+        do_disable()
+    end
+    persist_state()
+end
+
+local help = false
+local positionals = argparse.processArgsGetopt({...}, {
+    {'h', 'help', handler=function() help = true end},
+})
+
+local command = table.remove(positionals, 1)
+if help or command == 'help' then
+    print(dfhack.script_help())
+    return
+end
+
+if not command or command == 'status' then
+    status()
+elseif command == 'set' then
+    local minutes = tonumber(positionals[1])
+    if not minutes or minutes <= 0 then
+        qerror('interval must be a positive number of minutes')
+    end
+    config.data.interval_minutes = minutes
+    config:write()
+    print(('autosave interval set to %s minute%s'):format(
+        minutes, minutes == 1 and '' or 's'))
+elseif command == 'now' then
+    if not dfhack.isMapLoaded() or not dfhack.world.isFortressMode() then
+        qerror('a fortress must be loaded to save')
+    end
+    if is_save_in_progress() then
+        qerror('a save is already in progress')
+    end
+    save_now()
+else
+    qerror(('unrecognized command: "%s"'):format(command))
+end
diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index b492b6d2ec..c0f4d2148d 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 # Future
 
 ## New Tools
+- `autosave`: automatically save the game every N minutes of real time
 
 ## New Features
 
diff --git a/docs/autosave.rst b/docs/autosave.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0765028be7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/autosave.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+autosave
+========
+
+.. dfhack-tool::
+    :summary: Automatically save the game on a real-time schedule.
+    :tags: fort gameplay
+
+When enabled, ``autosave`` periodically checks how much real time has passed
+since the game was last saved (or loaded), and runs `quicksave` once the
+configured interval has elapsed.
+
+Unlike the vanilla seasonal autosaves, the interval is measured in real time
+rather than game time, and it keeps counting even while the game is paused.
+The interval applies globally across all your forts and worlds, while the
+enabled state is remembered per fort.
+
+Usage
+-----
+
+::
+
+    enable autosave
+    autosave [status]
+    autosave set <minutes>
+    autosave now
+
+``autosave`` or ``autosave status``
+    Show whether autosave is enabled, the configured interval, and how much
+    time has passed since the last save.
+``autosave set <minutes>``
+    Set how often the game is saved, in minutes of real time. The default is
+    30 minutes.
+``autosave now``
+    Save the game immediately.
+
+You can also enable and disable ``autosave`` on the Automation tab of the
+DFHack control panel.
diff --git a/internal/control-panel/registry.lua b/internal/control-panel/registry.lua
index 0759ed398c..84b21de980 100644
--- a/internal/control-panel/registry.lua
+++ b/internal/control-panel/registry.lua
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ COMMANDS_BY_IDX = {
         desc='Automatically milk creatures that are ready for milking.',
         params={'--time', '14', '--timeUnits', 'days', '--command', '[', 'workorder', '"{\\"job\\":\\"MilkCreature\\",\\"item_conditions\\":[{\\"condition\\":\\"AtLeast\\",\\"value\\":2,\\"flags\\":[\\"empty\\"],\\"item_type\\":\\"BUCKET\\"}]}"', ']'}},
     {command='autonestbox', group='automation', mode='enable'},
+    {command='autosave', group='automation', mode='enable'},
     {command='autoshear', help_command='workorder', group='automation', mode='repeat',
         desc='Automatically shear creatures that are ready for shearing.',
         params={'--time', '14', '--timeUnits', 'days', '--command', '[', 'workorder', 'ShearCreature', ']'}},
diff --git a/test/autosave.lua b/test/autosave.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..947a5940f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/autosave.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+config = {
+    mode = 'fortress',
+    target = 'autosave',
+}
+
+local autosave = reqscript('autosave')
+
+-- saving can take a while for large forts
+local SAVE_TIMEOUT_FRAMES = 6000
+
+local function wait_for_save()
+    -- the unsaved time counter resets when a save completes, so it decreasing
+    -- below the value captured before triggering the save means it finished
+    local before = dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds()
+    return function()
+        return dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() < before
+    end
+end
+
+config.wrapper = function(test_fn)
+    -- dfhack.run_script is patched during tests to use a test-local script
+    -- env, but enable/disable go through dfhack.enable_script and act on the
+    -- real env, so drive the real env directly with run_script_with_env
+    local orig_interval = autosave.config.data.interval_minutes
+    dfhack.enable_script('autosave', false)
+    local ok, err = pcall(test_fn)
+    dfhack.enable_script('autosave', false)
+    dfhack.run_script_with_env(nil, 'autosave', {}, 'set', tostring(orig_interval or 30))
+    if not ok then error(err) end
+end
+
+function test.now_saves_game()
+    -- wait a few seconds so that the unsaved time is distinguishably positive
+    delay_until(function()
+        return dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() >= 3
+    end, 1000)
+    dfhack.run_script('autosave', 'now')
+    delay_until(wait_for_save(), SAVE_TIMEOUT_FRAMES)
+end
+
+function test.save_fires_when_enabled()
+    -- wait a few seconds so that the unsaved time is distinguishably positive
+    -- and its reset on save is observable
+    delay_until(function()
+        return dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() >= 3
+    end, 1000)
+    dfhack.run_script_with_env(nil, 'autosave', {}, 'set', '0.001')
+    dfhack.enable_script('autosave', true)
+    delay_until(wait_for_save(), SAVE_TIMEOUT_FRAMES)
+end
+
+function test.no_save_when_disabled()
+    local before = dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds()
+    -- poll interval is 100 frames; wait well past it
+    delay(500)
+    expect.true_(dfhack.persistent.getUnsavedSeconds() >= before)
+end