diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index bf44ca38a..900cb4ffc 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -632,8 +632,8 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 		ps_playerthink_time = I_GetPreciseTime() - ps_playerthink_time;
 
 		// TODO would this be laggy with more conditions in play...
-		if ((!demo.playback && M_UpdateUnlockablesAndExtraEmblems(true))
-			|| (gamedata && gamedata->deferredsave))
+		if ((leveltime > introtime) && ((!demo.playback && M_UpdateUnlockablesAndExtraEmblems(true))
+			|| (gamedata && gamedata->deferredsave)))
 			G_SaveGameData(true);
 	}