diff --git a/src/ai/ai.hpp b/src/ai/ai.hpp
--- a/src/ai/ai.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai.hpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ public:
 	static char *GetConsoleList(char *p, const char *last);
 	static const AIInfoList *GetInfoList();
 	static const AIInfoList *GetUniqueInfoList();
-	static AIInfo *FindInfo(const char *name, int version);
+	static AIInfo *FindInfo(const char *name, int version, bool force_exact_match);
 	static bool ImportLibrary(const char *library, const char *class_name, int version, HSQUIRRELVM vm);
 	static void Rescan();
 #if defined(ENABLE_NETWORK)
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_config.cpp b/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
--- a/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_config.cpp
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@
 #include "ai.hpp"
 #include "ai_config.hpp"
 
-void AIConfig::ChangeAI(const char *name, int version, bool is_random_ai)
+void AIConfig::ChangeAI(const char *name, int version, bool force_exact_match, bool is_random_ai)
 {
 	free((void *)this->name);
 	this->name = (name == NULL) ? NULL : strdup(name);
-	this->info = (name == NULL) ? NULL : AI::FindInfo(this->name, version);
+	this->info = (name == NULL) ? NULL : AI::FindInfo(this->name, version, force_exact_match);
 	this->version = (info == NULL) ? -1 : info->GetVersion();
 	this->is_random_ai = is_random_ai;
 	if (this->config_list != NULL) delete this->config_list;
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ AIInfo *AIConfig::GetInfo() const
 
 bool AIConfig::ResetInfo()
 {
-	this->info = AI::FindInfo(this->name, -1);
+	this->info = AI::FindInfo(this->name, -1, false);
 	return this->info != NULL;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_config.hpp b/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
--- a/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_config.hpp
@@ -36,9 +36,11 @@ public:
 	 * Set another AI to be loaded in this slot.
 	 * @param name The name of the AI.
 	 * @param version The version of the AI to load, or -1 of latest.
+	 * @param force_exact_match If true try to find the exact same version
+	 *   as specified. If false any compatible version is ok.
 	 * @param is_random Is the AI chosen randomly?
 	 */
-	void ChangeAI(const char *name, int version = -1, bool is_random = false);
+	void ChangeAI(const char *name, int version = -1, bool force_exact_match = false, bool is_random = false);
 
 	/**
 	 * When ever the AI Scanner is reloaded, all infos become invalid. This
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_core.cpp b/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
--- a/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_core.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
 		info = AI::ai_scanner->SelectRandomAI();
 		assert(info != NULL);
 		/* Load default data and store the name in the settings */
-		config->ChangeAI(info->GetName(), -1, true);
+		config->ChangeAI(info->GetName(), -1, false, true);
 	}
 
 	_current_company = company;
@@ -288,9 +288,9 @@ void CcAI(const CommandCost &result, Til
 	return AI::ai_scanner->GetUniqueAIInfoList();
 }
 
-/* static */ AIInfo *AI::FindInfo(const char *name, int version)
+/* static */ AIInfo *AI::FindInfo(const char *name, int version, bool force_exact_match)
 {
-	return AI::ai_scanner->FindInfo(name, version);
+	return AI::ai_scanner->FindInfo(name, version, force_exact_match);
 }
 
 /* static */ bool AI::ImportLibrary(const char *library, const char *class_name, int version, HSQUIRRELVM vm)
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_scanner.cpp b/src/ai/ai_scanner.cpp
--- a/src/ai/ai_scanner.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_scanner.cpp
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ AIInfo *AIScanner::SelectRandomAI() cons
 	return (*it).second;
 }
 
-AIInfo *AIScanner::FindInfo(const char *nameParam, int versionParam)
+AIInfo *AIScanner::FindInfo(const char *nameParam, int versionParam, bool force_exact_match)
 {
 	if (this->info_list.size() == 0) return NULL;
 	if (nameParam == NULL) return NULL;
@@ -299,21 +299,19 @@ AIInfo *AIScanner::FindInfo(const char *
 		/* Fall-through, like we were calling this function with a version */
 	}
 
-	/* Try to find a direct 'name.version' match */
-	char ai_name_tmp[1024];
-	snprintf(ai_name_tmp, sizeof(ai_name_tmp), "%s.%d", ai_name, versionParam);
-	strtolower(ai_name_tmp);
-	if (this->info_list.find(ai_name_tmp) != this->info_list.end()) return this->info_list[ai_name_tmp];
+	if (force_exact_match) {
+		/* Try to find a direct 'name.version' match */
+		char ai_name_tmp[1024];
+		snprintf(ai_name_tmp, sizeof(ai_name_tmp), "%s.%d", ai_name, versionParam);
+		strtolower(ai_name_tmp);
+		if (this->info_list.find(ai_name_tmp) != this->info_list.end()) return this->info_list[ai_name_tmp];
+	}
 
 	/* See if there is a compatible AI which goes by that name, with the highest
 	 *  version which allows loading the requested version */
 	AIInfoList::iterator it = this->info_list.begin();
 	for (; it != this->info_list.end(); it++) {
-		char ai_name_compare[1024];
-		snprintf(ai_name_compare, sizeof(ai_name_compare), "%s", (*it).second->GetName());
-		strtolower(ai_name_compare);
-
-		if (strcasecmp(ai_name, ai_name_compare) == 0 && (*it).second->CanLoadFromVersion(versionParam) && (version == -1 || (*it).second->GetVersion() > version)) {
+		if (strcasecmp(ai_name, (*it).second->GetName()) == 0 && (*it).second->CanLoadFromVersion(versionParam) && (version == -1 || (*it).second->GetVersion() > version)) {
 			version = (*it).second->GetVersion();
 			info = (*it).second;
 		}
diff --git a/src/ai/ai_scanner.hpp b/src/ai/ai_scanner.hpp
--- a/src/ai/ai_scanner.hpp
+++ b/src/ai/ai_scanner.hpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Find an AI by name.
 	 */
-	class AIInfo *FindInfo(const char *name, int version);
+	class AIInfo *FindInfo(const char *name, int version, bool force_exact_match);
 
 	/**
 	 * Get the list of available AIs for the console.
diff --git a/src/console_cmds.cpp b/src/console_cmds.cpp
--- a/src/console_cmds.cpp
+++ b/src/console_cmds.cpp
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ DEF_CONSOLE_CMD(ConStartAI)
 
 	AIConfig *config = AIConfig::GetConfig((CompanyID)n);
 	if (argc >= 2) {
-		config->ChangeAI(argv[1]);
+		config->ChangeAI(argv[1], -1, true);
 		if (!config->HasAI()) {
 			IConsoleWarning("Failed to load the specified AI");
 			return true;
diff --git a/src/saveload/ai_sl.cpp b/src/saveload/ai_sl.cpp
--- a/src/saveload/ai_sl.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/ai_sl.cpp
@@ -75,13 +75,13 @@ static void Load_AIPL()
 		AIConfig *config = AIConfig::GetConfig(index);
 		if (StrEmpty(_ai_saveload_name)) {
 			/* A random AI. */
-			config->ChangeAI(NULL, -1, true);
+			config->ChangeAI(NULL, -1, false, true);
 		} else {
-			config->ChangeAI(_ai_saveload_name, _ai_saveload_version, _ai_saveload_is_random);
+			config->ChangeAI(_ai_saveload_name, _ai_saveload_version, false, _ai_saveload_is_random);
 			if (!config->HasAI()) {
 				/* No version of the AI available that can load the data. Try to load the
 				 * latest version of the AI instead. */
-				config->ChangeAI(_ai_saveload_name, -1, _ai_saveload_is_random);
+				config->ChangeAI(_ai_saveload_name, -1, false, _ai_saveload_is_random);
 				if (!config->HasAI()) {
 					if (strcmp(_ai_saveload_name, "%_dummy") != 0) {
 						DEBUG(ai, 0, "The savegame has an AI by the name '%s', version %d which is no longer available.", _ai_saveload_name, _ai_saveload_version);