diff --git a/include/battle.h b/include/battle.h
index 6f77ea88cf..cdb21340b1 100644
--- a/include/battle.h
+++ b/include/battle.h
@@ -797,8 +797,9 @@ struct BattleStruct
     u8 itemMoveIndex[MAX_BATTLERS_COUNT];
     u8 pledgeMove:1;
     u8 isSkyBattle:1;
-    u32 aiDelayTimer; // Counts number of frames AI takes to choose an action.
-    u32 aiDelayFrames; // Number of frames it took to choose an action.
+    s32 aiDelayTimer; // Counts number of frames AI takes to choose an action.
+    s32 aiDelayFrames; // Number of frames it took to choose an action.
+    s32 aiDelayCycles; // Number of cycles it took to choose an action.
     u8 timesGotHit[NUM_BATTLE_SIDES][PARTY_SIZE];
     u8 transformZeroToHero[NUM_BATTLE_SIDES];
     u8 stickySyrupdBy[MAX_BATTLERS_COUNT];
diff --git a/include/global.h b/include/global.h
index c033ab9b35..a6e494f03a 100644
--- a/include/global.h
+++ b/include/global.h
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@
 
 #define FEATURE_FLAG_ASSERT(flag, id) STATIC_ASSERT(flag > TEMP_FLAGS_END || flag == 0, id)
 
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+// NOTE: This uses hardware timers 2 and 3; this will not work during active link connections or with the eReader
 static inline void CycleCountStart()
 {
     REG_TM2CNT_H = 0;
@@ -154,7 +154,6 @@ static inline u32 CycleCountEnd()
     // return result
     return REG_TM2CNT_L | (REG_TM3CNT_L << 16u);
 }
-#endif
 
 struct Coords8
 {
diff --git a/src/battle_ai_main.c b/src/battle_ai_main.c
index e04ca63e68..b823e6e23e 100644
--- a/src/battle_ai_main.c
+++ b/src/battle_ai_main.c
@@ -473,6 +473,8 @@ void SetAiLogicDataForTurn(struct AiLogicData *aiData)
     battlersCount = gBattlersCount;
 
     AI_DATA->aiCalcInProgress = TRUE;
+    if (DEBUG_AI_DELAY_TIMER)
+        CycleCountStart();
     for (battlerAtk = 0; battlerAtk < battlersCount; battlerAtk++)
     {
         if (!IsBattlerAlive(battlerAtk))
@@ -488,6 +490,9 @@ void SetAiLogicDataForTurn(struct AiLogicData *aiData)
 
         SetBattlerAiMovesData(aiData, battlerAtk, battlersCount, weather);
     }
+    if (DEBUG_AI_DELAY_TIMER)
+        // We add to existing to compound multiple calls
+        gBattleStruct->aiDelayCycles += CycleCountEnd();
     AI_DATA->aiCalcInProgress = FALSE;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/battle_controller_player.c b/src/battle_controller_player.c
index 96404e031e..5ff81bf673 100644
--- a/src/battle_controller_player.c
+++ b/src/battle_controller_player.c
@@ -2011,14 +2011,18 @@ static void HandleChooseActionAfterDma3(u32 battler)
         {
             gBattleStruct->aiDelayFrames = gMain.vblankCounter1 - gBattleStruct->aiDelayTimer;
             gBattleStruct->aiDelayTimer = 0;
-            #if DEBUG_AI_DELAY_TIMER
+            if (DEBUG_AI_DELAY_TIMER)
             {
-                static const u8 sText_AIDelay[] = _("AI delay:\n{B_BUFF1} frames");
-                PREPARE_HWORD_NUMBER_BUFFER(gBattleTextBuff1, 3, gBattleStruct->aiDelayFrames);
-                BattleStringExpandPlaceholdersToDisplayedString(sText_AIDelay);
+                static const u8 sFramesText[] = _(" frames thinking\n");
+                static const u8 sCyclesText[] = _(" cycles");
+                ConvertIntToDecimalStringN(gDisplayedStringBattle, gBattleStruct->aiDelayFrames, STR_CONV_MODE_RIGHT_ALIGN, 3);
+                u8* end = StringAppend(gDisplayedStringBattle, sFramesText);
+                ConvertIntToDecimalStringN(end, gBattleStruct->aiDelayCycles, STR_CONV_MODE_RIGHT_ALIGN, 8);
+                // Clear old result once read out
+                gBattleStruct->aiDelayCycles = 0;
+                StringAppend(gDisplayedStringBattle, sCyclesText);
                 BattlePutTextOnWindow(gDisplayedStringBattle, B_WIN_ACTION_PROMPT);
             }
-            #endif // DEBUG_AI_DELAY_TIMER
         }
         gBattlerControllerFuncs[battler] = HandleInputChooseAction;
     }