diff --git a/saveload.c b/saveload.c
index fdc4d58479..1e6526d7a3 100644
--- a/saveload.c
+++ b/saveload.c
@@ -1235,9 +1235,11 @@ static bool SaveFileToDisk(void *ptr)
 	const SaveLoadFormat *fmt = GetSavegameFormat(_savegame_format);
 	/* XXX - backup _sl.buf cause it is used internally by the writer
 	 * and we update it for our own purposes */
-	byte *tmp = _sl.buf;
+	static byte *tmp = NULL;
 	uint32 hdr[2];
 
+	tmp = _sl.buf;
+
 	SaveFileStart();
 
 	/* XXX - Setup setjmp error handler if an error occurs anywhere deep during