diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
index fc6509d8a..d32335f35 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
@@ -5535,6 +5535,8 @@ static void G_FreeHashAnim(const char *UNUSED(string), intptr_t key)
 
 static void G_Cleanup(void)
 {
+    ReadSaveGameHeaders(); // for culling
+
     int32_t i;
 
     for (i=(MAXLEVELS*(MAXVOLUMES+1))-1; i>=0; i--) // +1 volume for "intro", "briefing" music
@@ -6569,6 +6571,8 @@ int app_main(int argc, char const * const * argv)
         Menu_Init();
     }
 
+    ReadSaveGameHeaders();
+
 #if 0
     // previously, passing -0 through -9 on the command line would load the save in that slot #
     // this code should be reusable for a new parameter that takes a filename, if desired