diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index d3686f6c7..8ace8c162 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -2338,7 +2338,7 @@ static void readcondition(UINT8 set, UINT32 id, char *word2)
 	INT32 i;
 	char *params[4]; // condition, requirement, extra info, extra info
 	char *spos;
-	char *pendingstring = NULL;
+	char *stringvar = NULL;
 
 	conditiontype_t ty;
 	INT32 re = 0;
@@ -2578,7 +2578,7 @@ static void readcondition(UINT8 set, UINT32 id, char *word2)
 		}
 #else
 		{
-			pendingstring = Z_StrDup(params[1]);
+			stringvar = Z_StrDup(params[1]);
 			re = -1;
 		}
 #endif
@@ -2623,7 +2623,7 @@ static void readcondition(UINT8 set, UINT32 id, char *word2)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	M_AddRawCondition(set, (UINT8)id, ty, re, x1, x2, pendingstring);
+	M_AddRawCondition(set, (UINT8)id, ty, re, x1, x2, stringvar);
 }
 
 void readconditionset(MYFILE *f, UINT8 setnum)
diff --git a/src/m_cond.c b/src/m_cond.c
index 5285d5835..f1ff2220f 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.c
+++ b/src/m_cond.c
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ void M_UpdateChallengeGridExtraData(challengegridextradata_t *extradata)
 	}
 }
 
-void M_AddRawCondition(UINT8 set, UINT8 id, conditiontype_t c, INT32 r, INT16 x1, INT16 x2, char *pendingstring)
+void M_AddRawCondition(UINT8 set, UINT8 id, conditiontype_t c, INT32 r, INT16 x1, INT16 x2, char *stringvar)
 {
 	condition_t *cond;
 	UINT32 num, wnum;
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ void M_AddRawCondition(UINT8 set, UINT8 id, conditiontype_t c, INT32 r, INT16 x1
 	cond[wnum].requirement = r;
 	cond[wnum].extrainfo1 = x1;
 	cond[wnum].extrainfo2 = x2;
-	cond[wnum].pendingstring = pendingstring;
+	cond[wnum].stringvar = stringvar;
 }
 
 void M_ClearConditionSet(UINT8 set)
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ void M_ClearConditionSet(UINT8 set)
 		while (conditionSets[set].numconditions > 0)
 		{
 			--conditionSets[set].numconditions;
-			Z_Free(conditionSets[set].condition[conditionSets[set].numconditions].pendingstring);
+			Z_Free(conditionSets[set].condition[conditionSets[set].numconditions].stringvar);
 		}
 
 		Z_Free(conditionSets[set].condition);
@@ -577,28 +577,29 @@ void M_UpdateConditionSetsPending(void)
 		for (j = 0; j < c->numconditions; ++j)
 		{
 			cn = &c->condition[j];
-			if (cn->pendingstring == NULL)
+			if (cn->stringvar == NULL)
 				continue;
 
 			switch (cn->type)
 			{
 				case UCRP_ISCHARACTER:
 				{
-					cn->requirement = R_SkinAvailable(cn->pendingstring);
+					cn->requirement = R_SkinAvailable(cn->stringvar);
 
 					if (cn->requirement < 0)
 					{
-						CONS_Alert(CONS_WARNING, "UCRP_ISCHARACTER: Invalid character %s for condition ID %d", cn->pendingstring, cn->id+1);
+						CONS_Alert(CONS_WARNING, "UCRP_ISCHARACTER: Invalid character %s for condition ID %d", cn->stringvar, cn->id+1);
 						return;
 					}
+
+					Z_Free(cn->stringvar);
+					cn->stringvar = NULL;
+
 					break;
 				}
 				default:
 					break;
 			}
-
-			Z_Free(cn->pendingstring);
-			cn->pendingstring = NULL;
 		}
 
 		
diff --git a/src/m_cond.h b/src/m_cond.h
index bf826f210..ef183734a 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.h
+++ b/src/m_cond.h
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ struct condition_t
 	INT32 requirement;   /// <- The requirement for this variable.
 	INT16 extrainfo1;    /// <- Extra information for the condition when needed.
 	INT16 extrainfo2;    /// <- Extra information for the condition when needed.
-	char *pendingstring; /// oooohhh my god i hate loading order for SOC VS skins
+	char *stringvar;     /// <- Extra z-allocated string for the condition when needed
 };
 struct conditionset_t
 {
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ char *M_BuildConditionSetString(UINT8 unlockid);
 #define DESCRIPTIONWIDTH 170
 
 // Condition set setup
-void M_AddRawCondition(UINT8 set, UINT8 id, conditiontype_t c, INT32 r, INT16 x1, INT16 x2, char *pendingstring);
+void M_AddRawCondition(UINT8 set, UINT8 id, conditiontype_t c, INT32 r, INT16 x1, INT16 x2, char *stringvar);
 void M_UpdateConditionSetsPending(void);
 
 // Clearing secrets