diff --git a/similar/main/multi.cpp b/similar/main/multi.cpp
index 016602301..3de207c76 100644
--- a/similar/main/multi.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/multi.cpp
@@ -4831,7 +4831,6 @@ void multi_save_game(ubyte slot, uint id, char *desc)
 
 	snprintf(filename, sizeof(filename), PLAYER_DIRECTORY_STRING("%s.mg%d"), static_cast<const char *>(get_local_player().callsign), slot);
 	HUD_init_message(HM_MULTI,  "Saving game #%d, '%s'", slot, desc);
-	stop_time();
 	state_game_id = id;
 	state_save_all_sub(filename, desc );
 }
diff --git a/similar/main/newdemo.cpp b/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
index 1e2edc2e9..810145502 100644
--- a/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/newdemo.cpp
@@ -3034,13 +3034,17 @@ static int newdemo_read_frame_information(int rewrite)
 				if ((loaded_level < Last_secret_level) || (loaded_level > Last_level)) {
 					nm_messagebox( NULL, 1, TXT_OK, "%s\n%s\n%s", TXT_CANT_PLAYBACK, TXT_LEVEL_CANT_LOAD, TXT_DEMO_OLD_CORRUPT );
 					Current_mission.reset();
+                                        start_time();
 					return -1;
 				}
 
 				LoadLevel((int)loaded_level,1);
 				nd_playback_v_cntrlcen_destroyed = 0;
+                                start_time();
 			}
 
+                        if (!rewrite)
+                                stop_time();
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 			if (nd_playback_v_juststarted)
 			{
@@ -3098,7 +3102,8 @@ static int newdemo_read_frame_information(int rewrite)
 			reset_palette_add();                // get palette back to normal
 			full_palette_save();				// initialise for palette_restore()
 
-			start_time();
+                        if (!rewrite)
+                                start_time();
 			break;
 		}
 
diff --git a/similar/main/state.cpp b/similar/main/state.cpp
index 63141d5fe..599a4003a 100644
--- a/similar/main/state.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/state.cpp
@@ -881,6 +881,7 @@ int state_save_all(const secret_save secret, const blind_save blind_save)
 		}
 	}
 #endif
+        start_time();
 
 	rval = state_save_all_sub(filename, desc);
 
@@ -905,10 +906,11 @@ int state_save_all_sub(const char *filename, const char *desc)
 	auto fp = PHYSFSX_openWriteBuffered(filename);
 	if ( !fp ) {
 		nm_messagebox(NULL, 1, TXT_OK, "Error writing savegame.\nPossibly out of disk\nspace.");
-		start_time();
 		return 0;
 	}
 
+        stop_time();
+
 //Save id
 	PHYSFS_write(fp, dgss_id, sizeof(char) * 4, 1);