diff --git a/common/main/ai.h b/common/main/ai.h
index 7ee2940d6..8e89add6b 100644
--- a/common/main/ai.h
+++ b/common/main/ai.h
@@ -232,7 +232,6 @@ extern objnum_t	 Escort_goal_index;
 
 #define THIEF_PROBABILITY   16384   // 50% chance of stealing an item at each attempt
 
-extern int   Escort_kill_object;
 // Maximum number kept track of, will keep stealing, causes stolen weapons to be lost!
 struct stolen_items_t : public array<uint8_t, 10> {};
 extern stolen_items_t Stolen_items;
diff --git a/d2x-rebirth/main/escort.cpp b/d2x-rebirth/main/escort.cpp
index e4d5fafaa..c3dcaffee 100644
--- a/d2x-rebirth/main/escort.cpp
+++ b/d2x-rebirth/main/escort.cpp
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ constexpr array<char[12], ESCORT_GOAL_MARKER9> Escort_goal_text = {{
 }};
 
 static int Max_escort_length = 200;
-int	Escort_kill_object = -1;
 stolen_items_t Stolen_items;
 int	Stolen_item_index;
 fix64	Escort_last_path_created = 0;
@@ -744,8 +743,6 @@ static void escort_create_path_to_goal(const vmobjptridx_t objp, const player_in
 	if (Escort_special_goal != ESCORT_GOAL_UNSPECIFIED)
 		Escort_goal_object = Escort_special_goal;
 
-	Escort_kill_object = -1;
-
 	const auto powerup_flags = player_info.powerup_flags;
 	if (Looking_for_marker != -1) {
 		goal_seg = escort_get_goal_segment(objp, OBJ_MARKER, Escort_goal_object - ESCORT_GOAL_MARKER1, powerup_flags);
diff --git a/similar/main/ai.cpp b/similar/main/ai.cpp
index 1fa69fe71..5cda71164 100644
--- a/similar/main/ai.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/ai.cpp
@@ -521,7 +521,6 @@ void init_ai_object(vmobjptridx_t objp, ai_behavior behavior, const imsegidx_t h
 #if defined(DXX_BUILD_DESCENT_II)
 	if (robot_is_companion(robptr)) {
 		ailp->mode = ai_mode::AIM_GOTO_PLAYER;
-		Escort_kill_object = -1;
 	}
 
 	if (robot_is_thief(robptr)) {
@@ -4494,7 +4493,7 @@ int ai_save_state(PHYSFS_File *fp)
 	else
 		tmptime32 = Boss_hit_time - GameTime64;
 	PHYSFS_write(fp, &tmptime32, sizeof(fix), 1);
-	PHYSFS_write(fp, &Escort_kill_object, sizeof(Escort_kill_object), 1);
+	PHYSFS_writeSLE32(fp, -1);
 	if (Escort_last_path_created - GameTime64 < F1_0*(-18000))
 		tmptime32 = F1_0*(-18000);
 	else
@@ -4691,7 +4690,7 @@ int ai_restore_state(PHYSFS_File *fp, int version, int swap)
 	Boss_hit_time = static_cast<fix64>(tmptime32);
 
 	if (version >= 8) {
-		Escort_kill_object = PHYSFSX_readSXE32(fp, swap);
+		PHYSFSX_readSXE32(fp, swap);
 		tmptime32 = PHYSFSX_readSXE32(fp, swap);
 		Escort_last_path_created = static_cast<fix64>(tmptime32);
 		Escort_goal_object = static_cast<escort_goal_t>(PHYSFSX_readSXE32(fp, swap));
@@ -4699,7 +4698,6 @@ int ai_restore_state(PHYSFS_File *fp, int version, int swap)
 		Escort_goal_index = PHYSFSX_readSXE32(fp, swap);
 		PHYSFS_read(fp, &Stolen_items, sizeof(Stolen_items[0]) * Stolen_items.size(), 1);
 	} else {
-		Escort_kill_object = -1;
 		Escort_last_path_created = 0;
 		Escort_goal_object = ESCORT_GOAL_UNSPECIFIED;
 		Escort_special_goal = ESCORT_GOAL_UNSPECIFIED;