diff --git a/src/saveload/saveload.cpp b/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
--- a/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
@@ -793,7 +793,7 @@ void WriteValue(void *ptr, VarType conv,
 		case SLE_VAR_U32: *(uint32*)ptr = val; break;
 		case SLE_VAR_I64: *(int64 *)ptr = val; break;
 		case SLE_VAR_U64: *(uint64*)ptr = val; break;
-		case SLE_VAR_NAME: *(char**)ptr = CopyFromOldName(val); break;
+		case SLE_VAR_NAME: *reinterpret_cast<std::string *>(ptr) = CopyFromOldName(val); break;
 		case SLE_VAR_NULL: break;
 		default: NOT_REACHED();
 	}
@@ -1515,6 +1515,8 @@ static bool IsVariableSizeRight(const Sa
 				case SLE_VAR_I64:
 				case SLE_VAR_U64:
 					return sld->size == sizeof(int64);
+				case SLE_VAR_NAME:
+					return sld->size == sizeof(std::string);
 				default:
 					return sld->size == sizeof(void *);
 			}