diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index 7fb23e8195..f2ab56e673 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -3430,6 +3430,10 @@ static int D_InitGame(const FIWADInfo* iwad_info, TArray<FString>& allwads, TArr
 		if (v)
 		{
 			FString file = G_BuildSaveName(v);
+			if (!FileExists(file))
+			{
+				I_FatalError("Cannot find savegame %s", file.GetChars());
+			}
 			G_LoadGame(file);
 		}
 
@@ -3607,17 +3611,6 @@ static int D_DoomMain_Internal (void)
 	// Now that we have the IWADINFO, initialize the autoload ini sections.
 	GameConfig->DoAutoloadSetup(iwad_man);
 
-	// Prevent the game from starting if the savegame passed to -loadgame is invalid
-	v = Args->CheckValue("-loadgame");
-	if (v)
-	{
-		FString file = G_BuildSaveName(v);
-		if (!FileExists(file))
-		{
-			I_FatalError("Cannot find savegame %s", file.GetChars());
-		}
-	}
-
 	// reinit from here
 
 	do