diff --git a/companion/src/simulation/simulator.h b/companion/src/simulation/simulator.h
index ee108deb0..52ffc04e2 100644
--- a/companion/src/simulation/simulator.h
+++ b/companion/src/simulation/simulator.h
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ namespace Simulator
 
 struct SimulatorOptions
 {
+    // NOTE: now that the main property/settings system is easier to use, it would probably be better to add new settings directly to Profiles.
+    // TODO: perhaps refactor this some day.
+
     enum StartupDataTypes {
       START_WITH_FILE = 0,
       START_WITH_FOLDER,
@@ -152,6 +155,24 @@ struct SimulatorOptions
       return in;
     }
 
+    inline bool operator == (const SimulatorOptions &rhs) const
+    {
+      bool ret = (dataFile == rhs.dataFile && dataFolder == rhs.dataFolder && sdPath == rhs.sdPath &&
+                  windowGeometry == rhs.windowGeometry && lcdColor == rhs.lcdColor &&
+                  windowState == rhs.windowState && dbgConsoleState == rhs.dbgConsoleState && radioOutputsState == rhs.radioOutputsState);
+      if (!ret || controlsState.size() != rhs.controlsState.size()) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      int i = 0;
+      for (const QByteArray &cs : controlsState) {
+        if (cs != rhs.controlsState.at(i++)) {
+          return false;
+        }
+      }
+      return true;
+    }
+    inline bool operator != (const SimulatorOptions &rhs) const { return !(*this == rhs); }
+
     friend QDebug operator << (QDebug d, const SimulatorOptions & o)
     {
       QDebugStateSaver saver(d);
@@ -160,6 +181,9 @@ struct SimulatorOptions
       return d;
     }
 
+    // this is a silly operator for this case, but required for QMetaType::registerComparators() to use our == comparison operators when casting as QVariant.
+    inline bool operator < (const SimulatorOptions &rhs) const { return firmwareId < rhs.firmwareId; }
+
   private:
     quint16 m_version = 0;
 };