diff --git a/common/main/switch.h b/common/main/switch.h
index 595162799..e3dfc7090 100644
--- a/common/main/switch.h
+++ b/common/main/switch.h
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ struct v30_trigger
 struct trigger
 {
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
-	sbyte		type;
+	ubyte __obsolete_type;	// for padding
 	short		flags;
 #elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	ubyte   type;       //what this trigger does
diff --git a/similar/main/dumpmine.cpp b/similar/main/dumpmine.cpp
index b28cc0662..d42bc2139 100644
--- a/similar/main/dumpmine.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/dumpmine.cpp
@@ -548,8 +548,8 @@ static void write_trigger_text(PHYSFS_file *my_file)
 	PHYSFSX_printf(my_file, "Triggers:\n");
 	for (i=0; i<Num_triggers; i++) {
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
-		PHYSFSX_printf(my_file, "Trigger %03i: type=%3i flags=%04x, value=%08x, time=%8x, linknum=%i, num_links=%i ", i, 
-                        Triggers[i].type, Triggers[i].flags, (unsigned int) (Triggers[i].value), (unsigned int) (Triggers[i].time), Triggers[i].link_num, Triggers[i].num_links);
+		PHYSFSX_printf(my_file, "Trigger %03i: flags=%04x, value=%08x, time=%8x, linknum=%i, num_links=%i ", i, 
+                        Triggers[i].flags, (unsigned int) (Triggers[i].value), (unsigned int) (Triggers[i].time), Triggers[i].link_num, Triggers[i].num_links);
 #elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 		PHYSFSX_printf(my_file, "Trigger %03i: type=%02x flags=%04x, value=%08x, time=%8x, num_links=%i ", i,
 			Triggers[i].type, Triggers[i].flags, Triggers[i].value, Triggers[i].time, Triggers[i].num_links);
diff --git a/similar/main/gamesave.cpp b/similar/main/gamesave.cpp
index 80bd29d37..6cb2630c5 100644
--- a/similar/main/gamesave.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/gamesave.cpp
@@ -946,27 +946,21 @@ static int load_game_data(PHYSFS_file *LoadFile)
 			switch ((type = PHYSFSX_readByte(LoadFile)))
 			{
 				case 0: // door
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_CONTROL_DOORS;
 					break;
 				case 2: // matcen
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_MATCEN;
 					break;
 				case 3: // exit
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_EXIT;
 					break;
 				case 4: // secret exit
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_SECRET_EXIT;
 					break;
 				case 5: // illusion off
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_ILLUSION_OFF;
 					break;
 				case 6: // illusion on
-					Triggers[i].type = 0;
 					Triggers[i].flags = TRIGGER_ILLUSION_ON;
 					break;
 				default:
diff --git a/similar/main/switch.cpp b/similar/main/switch.cpp
index 8b5bf5fcd..d8fda4d03 100644
--- a/similar/main/switch.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/switch.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@ void trigger_init()
 
 	for (i=0;i<MAX_TRIGGERS;i++)
 		{
-		Triggers[i].type = 0;
 		Triggers[i].flags = 0;
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
 		Triggers[i].link_num = -1;
@@ -653,7 +652,11 @@ extern void v29_trigger_read(v29_trigger *t, PHYSFS_file *fp)
 {
 	int i;
 
+#if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_I)
+	PHYSFSX_readByte(fp);
+#elif defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	t->type = PHYSFSX_readByte(fp);
+#endif
 	t->flags = PHYSFSX_readShort(fp);
 	t->value = PHYSFSX_readFix(fp);
 	t->time = PHYSFSX_readFix(fp);