diff --git a/source/core/cheats.cpp b/source/core/cheats.cpp
index 1be698f9b..bdbec4080 100644
--- a/source/core/cheats.cpp
+++ b/source/core/cheats.cpp
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ CCMD(levelwarp)
 	auto map = levelwarp_common(argv, "levelwarp", "warp to");
 	if (map)
 	{
-		ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+		ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ CCMD(levelstart)
 	auto map = levelwarp_common(argv, "start game", "start new game at");
 	if (map)
 	{
-		DeferredStartGame(map, -1);
+		DeferredStartGame(map, g_nextskill);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ CCMD(changemap)
 		Printf(PRINT_BOLD, "%s: map file not found\n", map->fileName.GetChars());
 	}
 
-	ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+	ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ CCMD(map)
 			Printf(PRINT_BOLD, "%s: map file not found\n", map->fileName.GetChars());
 		}
 
-		DeferredStartGame(map, -1);
+		DeferredStartGame(map, g_nextskill);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ CCMD(restartmap)
 		Printf("Must be in a game to restart a level.\n");
 		return;
 	}
-	ChangeLevel(currentLevel, -1);
+	ChangeLevel(currentLevel, g_nextskill);
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVAR(Float, i_timescale, 1.0f, CVAR_NOINITCALL)
 CCMD(endofgame)
 {
 	STAT_Update(true);
-	ChangeLevel(nullptr, -1);
+	ChangeLevel(nullptr, g_nextskill);
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/source/core/mainloop.cpp b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
index 7ce5788de..4011c4952 100644
--- a/source/core/mainloop.cpp
+++ b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ void MainLoop ()
 		userConfig.CommandMap = "";
 		if (maprecord)
 		{
-			DeferredStartGame(maprecord, -1);
+			DeferredStartGame(maprecord, g_nextskill);
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/messages.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/messages.cpp
index 40d5307d8..89df92bea 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/messages.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/messages.cpp
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ static bool cheatMario(cheatseq_t* c)
     if (parseArgs((char*)c->Args, &nEpisode, &nLevel) == 2)
 	{
 		auto map = FindMapByIndex(nEpisode, nLevel);
-		if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, -1);
+		if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, g_nextskill);
 	}
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/cheats.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/cheats.cpp
index e87bce1fc..a98cdefa1 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/cheats.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/cheats.cpp
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ static bool cheatLevel(cheatseq_t *s)
 	auto map = FindMapByIndex(volnume, levnume);
 	if (map)
 	{
-		ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+		ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
 	}
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
index e2d0b2751..0205f4e0a 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
@@ -3444,7 +3444,7 @@ int ParseState::parse(void)
 		levnume = GetGameVarID(*insptr++, g_ac, g_p);
 		auto level = FindMapByIndex(volnume, levnume);
 		if (level != nullptr)
-			ChangeLevel(level, -1);
+			ChangeLevel(level, g_nextskill);
 		break;
 	}
 	case concmd_myosx:
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/cheats.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/cheats.cpp
index c2edfac6c..90a41e712 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/cheats.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/cheats.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ const char *GameInterface::GenericCheat(int player, int cheat)
 bool RestartCheat(cheatseq_t* c)
 {
     if (!checkCheat(c)) return false;
-	DeferredStartGame(currentLevel, -1);
+	DeferredStartGame(currentLevel, g_nextskill);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ bool NextCheat(cheatseq_t* c)
     if (!checkCheat(c)) return false;
     if (!currentLevel) return true;
     auto map = FindNextMap(currentLevel);
-	if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, -1);
+	if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, g_nextskill);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ bool PrevCheat(cheatseq_t* c)
     if (!checkCheat(c)) return false;
     if (!currentLevel) return true;
     auto map = FindMapByLevelNum(currentLevel->levelNumber - 1);
-	if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, -1);
+	if (map) DeferredStartGame(map, g_nextskill);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ bool WarpCheat(cheatseq_t* c)
     if (TEST(pp->Flags, PF_DEAD))
         return true;
 
-	DeferredStartGame(maprec, -1);
+	DeferredStartGame(maprec, g_nextskill);
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/player.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/player.cpp
index b68375439..0a4ee7215 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/player.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/player.cpp
@@ -7045,7 +7045,7 @@ void MultiPlayLimits(void)
 
         MapRecord *next = nullptr;
         next = FindNextMap(currentLevel);
-		ChangeLevel(next, -1);
+		ChangeLevel(next, g_nextskill);
     }
 }
 
@@ -7206,7 +7206,7 @@ domovethings(void)
 			{
 				map = FindNextMap(currentLevel);
 			}
-			ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+			ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/sector.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/sector.cpp
index 5ac53e495..1a21ad049 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/sector.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/sector.cpp
@@ -1914,7 +1914,7 @@ OperateSprite(short SpriteNum, short player_is_operating)
             map = FindMapByLevelNum(sp->hitag);
         else
             map = FindNextMap(currentLevel);
-		ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+		ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
 
         return true;
     }
@@ -2096,7 +2096,7 @@ OperateTripTrigger(PLAYERp pp)
             map = FindMapByLevelNum(sectp->hitag);
         else
             map = FindNextMap(currentLevel);
-		ChangeLevel(map, -1);
+		ChangeLevel(map, g_nextskill);
         break;
     }
 
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/weapon.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/weapon.cpp
index 34fe6e6ec..f9f344d28 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/weapon.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/weapon.cpp
@@ -5327,7 +5327,7 @@ ActorHealth(short SpriteNum, short amt)
         if (u->Health < u->MaxHealth/2)
         {
             FinishAnim = ANIM_SERP;
-			ChangeLevel(nullptr, -1);
+			ChangeLevel(nullptr, g_nextskill);
             return true;
         }
     }