diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks.h b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks.h
index 4e7554bc34..12ed6f4a4d 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks.h
@@ -23,8 +23,23 @@ public:
 
 	virtual void SetTime( tm newtime ) { }
 
-	/* */
-	virtual int64_t GetMicrosecondsSinceStart() = 0;
+	/*
+	 * Return the amount of time since the program started.  (This may actually be
+	 * since the initialization of HOOKS.
+	 *
+	 * Full microsecond accuracy may not be available.
+	 *
+	 * bAccurate is a hint: it specifies whether to prefer short-term precision
+	 * or long-term accuracy.  If false, the implementation may give higher resolution
+	 * results, but not be as stable over long periods (eg. may drift depending on
+	 * clock speed shifts on laptops).  If true, lower precision results (usually with
+	 * no less than a 1ms granularity) are returned, but the results should be stable
+	 * over long periods of time.
+	 *
+	 * Note that bAccurate may change the result significantly; it may use a different
+	 * timer, and may have a different concept of when the program "started".
+	 */
+	virtual int64_t GetMicrosecondsSinceStart( bool bAccurate ) = 0;
 };
 
 ArchHooks *MakeArchHooks();
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.cpp b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.cpp
index adbd4188c4..6dcd9c91ed 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.cpp
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ void ArchHooks_Win32::SetTime( tm newtime )
 	SetLocalTime( &st ); 
 }
 
-int64_t ArchHooks_Win32::GetMicrosecondsSinceStart()
+int64_t ArchHooks_Win32::GetMicrosecondsSinceStart( bool bAccurate )
 {
 	static bool bInitialized;
 	static DWORD iStartTime;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.h b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.h
index 3d72256aa7..cc21ee1ff1 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/arch/ArchHooks/ArchHooks_Win32.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ public:
 	void EnterTimeCriticalSection();
 	void ExitTimeCriticalSection();
 	void SetTime( tm newtime );
-	int64_t GetMicrosecondsSinceStart();
+	int64_t GetMicrosecondsSinceStart( bool bAccurate );
 
 private:
 	void CheckVideoDriver();