diff --git a/src/menu/doommenu.cpp b/src/menu/doommenu.cpp
index e6a62f3c5a..83e84896a9 100644
--- a/src/menu/doommenu.cpp
+++ b/src/menu/doommenu.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ void I_WaitVBL(int count);
 
 
 FNewGameStartup NewGameStartupInfo;
+int LastSkill = -1;
 
 
 bool M_SetSpecialMenu(FName& menu, int param)
@@ -147,6 +148,7 @@ bool M_SetSpecialMenu(FName& menu, int param)
 	{
 		// sent from the skill menu for a skill that needs to be confirmed
 		NewGameStartupInfo.Skill = param;
+		LastSkill = param;
 
 		const char *msg = AllSkills[param].MustConfirmText;
 		if (*msg==0) msg = GStrings("NIGHTMARE");
@@ -157,6 +159,7 @@ bool M_SetSpecialMenu(FName& menu, int param)
 	case NAME_Startgame:
 		// sent either from skill menu or confirmation screen. Skill gets only set if sent from skill menu
 		// Now we can finally start the game. Ugh...
+		LastSkill = param;
 		NewGameStartupInfo.Skill = param;
 		[[fallthrough]];
 	case NAME_StartgameConfirmed:
@@ -1048,7 +1051,7 @@ void M_StartupSkillMenu(FNewGameStartup *gs)
 	}
 	if (MenuSkills.Size() == 0) I_Error("No valid skills for menu found. At least one must be defined.");
 
-	int defskill = DefaultSkill;
+	int defskill = LastSkill > -1? LastSkill : DefaultSkill; // use the last selected skill, if available.
 	if ((unsigned int)defskill >= MenuSkills.Size())
 	{
 		defskill = SkillIndices[(MenuSkills.Size() - 1) / 2];