diff --git a/src/d_main.c b/src/d_main.c
index 65d199912..d9eee1b0d 100644
--- a/src/d_main.c
+++ b/src/d_main.c
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ void D_ClearState(void)
 
 	cursongcredit.def = NULL;
 
-	if (gamedata->deferredsave)
+	if (gamedata && gamedata->deferredsave)
 		G_SaveGameData(true);
 
 	G_SetGamestate(GS_NULL);
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 42d2ddd92..d63de1937 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -4558,11 +4558,11 @@ void G_SaveGameData(boolean dirty)
 	UINT8 btemp;
 	savebuffer_t save = {0};
 
-	gamedata->deferredsave = false;
-
-	if (!gamedata->loaded)
+	if (gamedata == NULL || !gamedata->loaded)
 		return; // If never loaded (-nodata), don't save
 
+	gamedata->deferredsave = false;
+
 	if (usedCheats)
 	{
 #ifdef DEVELOP
diff --git a/src/m_cond.c b/src/m_cond.c
index cfaee1e73..df84c7783 100644
--- a/src/m_cond.c
+++ b/src/m_cond.c
@@ -1090,6 +1090,12 @@ boolean M_UpdateUnlockablesAndExtraEmblems(boolean loud)
 	INT32 i;
 	UINT8 response = 0;
 
+	if (!gamedata)
+	{
+		// Don't attempt to write/check anything.
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	if (!loud)
 	{
 		// Just in case they aren't to sync
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 8433b4ac3..bf44ca38a 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 
 		// TODO would this be laggy with more conditions in play...
 		if ((!demo.playback && M_UpdateUnlockablesAndExtraEmblems(true))
-			|| gamedata->deferredsave)
+			|| (gamedata && gamedata->deferredsave))
 			G_SaveGameData(true);
 	}