diff --git a/src/do.c b/src/do.c
index a7ad93903..54cfd5960 100644
--- a/src/do.c
+++ b/src/do.c
@@ -1376,6 +1376,9 @@ save_currentstate(void)
 {
     NHFILE *nhfp;
 
+    if (!program_state.something_worth_saving)
+        return;
+
     program_state.in_checkpoint++;
     if (flags.ins_chkpt) {
         /* write out just-attained level, with pets and everything */