diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
index 1b845ff49..b4bd5ee99 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/gameloop.cpp
@@ -165,8 +165,6 @@ void loadscreen_r(MapRecord* rec, CompletionFunc func);
 
 void GameInterface::NextLevel(MapRecord* map, int skill)
 {
-	if (skill != -1) ud.player_skill = skill + 1;
-
 #if 0
 	// Loading is so fast on modern system so that this only serves as an irritant, not an asset.
 	auto loadscreen = isRR() ? loadscreen_r : loadscreen_d;
@@ -191,6 +189,7 @@ void GameInterface::NewGame(MapRecord* map, int skill)
 	ps[0].last_extra = max_player_health;
 	resetweapons(0);
 	resetinventory(0);
+	if (skill != -1) skill = skill + 1;
 
 	startnewgame(map, skill);
 }
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
index 41f0c9d4d..4503b20a6 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ void donewgame(MapRecord* map, int sk)
     show_shareware = 26 * 34;
 
     //ud.nextLevel = map;
-    ud.player_skill = sk != -1 ? sk + 1 : sk;
+    ud.player_skill = sk;
     ud.secretlevel = 0;
     ud.from_bonus = 0;
 
@@ -990,6 +990,7 @@ void enterlevel(MapRecord *mi, int gamemode)
 
 void startnewgame(MapRecord* map, int skill)
 {
+    ud.player_skill = skill;
     ud.m_respawn_monsters = (skill == 4);
     ud.m_monsters_off = ud.monsters_off = 0;
     ud.m_respawn_items = 0;