diff --git a/docs/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes.md
index 0879a072..f3f66430 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes.md
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
   * Added `World.FurnitureListChanged` event (thanks to DiscipleOfEris!).
   * Added asset propagation for building/house paint masks.
   * Added validation for the manifest `Dependencies` field.
+  * Added `TRACE` message if software known to cause issues is installed (currently MSI Afterburner and RivaTuner), to simplify troubleshooting.
   * Fixed [JSON schema](technical/web.md#using-a-schema-file-directly) in Visual Studio Code warning about comments or trailing commas.
   * Fixed JSON schema for `i18n` files requiring the wrong value for the `$schema` field.
   * Fixed validation for mods with version `0.0.0`.
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs b/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
index bf88798b..2de2b21a 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ using System.Security;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
+#if SMAPI_FOR_WINDOWS
+using Microsoft.Win32;
+#endif
 using Microsoft.Xna.Framework;
 #if SMAPI_FOR_XNA
 using System.Windows.Forms;
@@ -376,6 +379,9 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
                 mods = resolver.ProcessDependencies(mods, modDatabase).ToArray();
                 this.LoadMods(mods, this.Toolkit.JsonHelper, this.ContentCore, modDatabase);
 
+                // check for software likely to cause issues
+                this.CheckForSoftwareConflicts();
+
                 // check for updates
                 this.CheckForUpdatesAsync(mods);
             }
@@ -1251,6 +1257,55 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
             this.LogManager.SetConsoleTitle(consoleTitle);
         }
 
+        /// <summary>Log a warning if software known to cause issues is installed.</summary>
+        private void CheckForSoftwareConflicts()
+        {
+#if SMAPI_FOR_WINDOWS
+            this.Monitor.Log("Checking for known software conflicts...");
+
+            try
+            {
+                string[] registryKeys = { @"SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall", @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" };
+
+                string[] installedNames = registryKeys
+                    .SelectMany(registryKey =>
+                    {
+                        using RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(registryKey);
+                        if (key == null)
+                            return new string[0];
+
+                        return key
+                            .GetSubKeyNames()
+                            .Select(subkeyName =>
+                            {
+                                using RegistryKey subkey = key.OpenSubKey(subkeyName);
+                                string displayName = (string)subkey?.GetValue("DisplayName");
+                                string displayVersion = (string)subkey?.GetValue("DisplayVersion");
+
+                                if (displayName != null && displayVersion != null && displayName.EndsWith($" {displayVersion}"))
+                                    displayName = displayName.Substring(0, displayName.Length - displayVersion.Length - 1);
+
+                                return displayName;
+                            })
+                            .ToArray();
+                    })
+                    .Where(name => name != null && (name.Contains("MSI Afterburner") || name.Contains("RivaTuner")))
+                    .Distinct()
+                    .OrderBy(name => name)
+                    .ToArray();
+
+                if (installedNames.Any())
+                    this.Monitor.Log($"   Found {string.Join(" and ", installedNames)} installed, which can conflict with SMAPI. If you experience errors or crashes, try disabling that software or adding an exception for SMAPI / Stardew Valley.");
+                else
+                    this.Monitor.Log("   None found!");
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                this.Monitor.Log($"Failed when checking for conflicting software. Technical details:\n{ex}");
+            }
+#endif
+        }
+
         /// <summary>Asynchronously check for a new version of SMAPI and any installed mods, and print alerts to the console if an update is available.</summary>
         /// <param name="mods">The mods to include in the update check (if eligible).</param>
         private void CheckForUpdatesAsync(IModMetadata[] mods)