diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index 5de166814..bd1e18286 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -1385,8 +1385,10 @@ save_currentstate(void)
     if (flags.ins_chkpt) {
         /* write out just-attained level, with pets and everything */
         nhfp = currentlevel_rewrite();
-        if (!nhfp)
+        if (!nhfp) {
+            program_state.in_checkpoint--;
             return;
+        }
         if (nhfp->structlevel)
             bufon(nhfp->fd);
         nhfp->mode = WRITING;