diff --git a/include/hack.h b/include/hack.h
index a7db0e819..b21fd98dc 100644
--- a/include/hack.h
+++ b/include/hack.h
@@ -794,6 +794,7 @@ struct sinfo {
     int exiting;                /* an exit handler is executing */
     int saving;                 /* creating a save file */
     int restoring;              /* reloading a save file */
+    int freeingdata;            /* in saveobjchn(), mode FREEING */
     int in_getlev;              /* in getlev() */
     int in_moveloop;            /* normal gameplay in progress */
     int in_impossible;          /* reporting a warning */
diff --git a/src/mkobj.c b/src/mkobj.c
index 4713e9d29..7af30c4ce 100644
--- a/src/mkobj.c
+++ b/src/mkobj.c
@@ -2739,10 +2739,15 @@ dealloc_obj(struct obj *obj)
         obj->where = OBJ_LUAFREE;
         return;
     }
-    /* mark object as deleted, put it into queue to be freed */
-    obj->where = OBJ_DELETED;
-    obj->nobj = go.objs_deleted;
-    go.objs_deleted = obj;
+    if (!program_state.freeingdata) {
+        /* mark object as deleted, put it into queue to be freed */
+        obj->where = OBJ_DELETED;
+        obj->nobj = go.objs_deleted;
+        go.objs_deleted = obj;
+    } else {
+        /* when saving, there's no need to stage deletions on objs_deleted */
+        dealloc_obj_real(obj);
+    }
 }
 
 /* actually deallocate the object */
diff --git a/src/save.c b/src/save.c
index e861a2f4f..69b9de6cb 100644
--- a/src/save.c
+++ b/src/save.c
@@ -853,7 +853,9 @@ saveobjchn(NHFILE *nhfp, struct obj **obj_p)
                 setworn((struct obj *) 0,
                         otmp->owornmask & (W_BALL | W_CHAIN));
             otmp->owornmask = 0L;   /* no longer care */
+            program_state.freeingdata++;
             dealloc_obj(otmp);
+            program_state.freeingdata--;
         }
         otmp = otmp2;
     }