diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 38f04a972e2..99d748bed09 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -211,10 +211,7 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	READ_FILE(S["pda_style"], pda_style)
 	READ_FILE(S["pda_color"], pda_color)
 
-	// Custom hotkeys
-	READ_FILE(S["key_bindings"], key_bindings)
-	check_keybindings()
-	// hearted
+	// OOC commendations
 	READ_FILE(S["hearted_until"], hearted_until)
 	if(hearted_until > world.realtime)
 		hearted = TRUE
@@ -228,6 +225,10 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 			parsed_favs += path
 	favorite_outfits = uniqueList(parsed_favs)
 
+	// Custom hotkeys
+	READ_FILE(S["key_bindings"], key_bindings)
+	check_keybindings() // this apparently fails every time and overwrites any unloaded prefs with the default values, so don't load anything after this line or it won't actually save
+
 	//try to fix any outdated data if necessary
 	if(needs_update >= 0)
 		var/bacpath = "[path].updatebac" //todo: if the savefile version is higher then the server, check the backup, and give the player a prompt to load the backup