diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 049a374d8e..754c33d3d3 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -427,6 +427,11 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 
 	verify_keybindings_valid()		// one of these days this will runtime and you'll be glad that i put it in a different proc so no one gets their saves wiped
 
+	if(S["unlockable_loadout"])
+		unlockable_loadout_data = safe_json_decode(S["unlockable_loadout"])
+	else
+		unlockable_loadout_data = list()
+
 	if(needs_update >= 0) //save the updated version
 		var/old_default_slot = default_slot
 		var/old_max_save_slots = max_save_slots
@@ -532,6 +537,11 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	WRITE_FILE(S["auto_ooc"], auto_ooc)
 	WRITE_FILE(S["no_tetris_storage"], no_tetris_storage)
 
+	if(length(unlockable_loadout_data))
+		WRITE_FILE(S["unlockable_loadout"], safe_json_encode(unlockable_loadout_data))
+	else
+		WRITE_FILE(S["unlockable_loadout"], safe_json_encode(list()))
+
 	return 1
 
 /datum/preferences/proc/load_character(slot, bypass_cooldown = FALSE)
@@ -741,11 +751,6 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	else
 		loadout_data = list()
 
-	if(S["unlockable_loadout"])
-		unlockable_loadout_data = safe_json_decode(S["unlockable_loadout"])
-	else
-		unlockable_loadout_data = list()
-
 	//try to fix any outdated data if necessary
 	//preference updating will handle saving the updated data for us.
 	if(needs_update >= 0)
@@ -1083,11 +1088,6 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	else
 		S["loadout"] << safe_json_encode(list())
 
-	if(length(unlockable_loadout_data))
-		S["unlockable_loadout"] << safe_json_encode(unlockable_loadout_data)
-	else
-		S["unlockable_loadout"] << safe_json_encode(list())
-
 	cit_character_pref_save(S)
 
 	return 1