diff --git a/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.cpp b/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.cpp
index a4db62fbc1..d0fa6b952f 100644
--- a/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 uint16 _sl_xv_feature_versions[XSLFI_SIZE];                 ///< array of all known feature types and their current versions
 bool _sl_is_ext_version;                                    ///< is this an extended savegame version, with more info in the SLXI chunk?
 bool _sl_is_faked_ext;                                      ///< is this a faked extended savegame version, with no SLXI chunk? See: SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions.
+bool _sl_maybe_springpp;                                    ///< is this possibly a SpringPP savegame?
 std::vector<uint32> _sl_xv_discardable_chunk_ids;           ///< list of chunks IDs which we can discard if no chunk loader exists
 
 static const uint32 _sl_xv_slxi_chunk_version = 0;          ///< current version of SLXI chunk
@@ -174,6 +175,7 @@ void SlXvResetState()
 {
 	_sl_is_ext_version = false;
 	_sl_is_faked_ext = false;
+	_sl_maybe_springpp = false;
 	_sl_xv_discardable_chunk_ids.clear();
 	memset(_sl_xv_feature_versions, 0, sizeof(_sl_xv_feature_versions));
 }
@@ -198,7 +200,7 @@ void SlXvSetCurrentState()
 /**
  * Check for "special" savegame versions (i.e. known patchpacks) and set correct savegame version, settings, etc.
  */
-void SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions()
+bool SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions()
 {
 	// Checks for special savegame versions go here
 	extern SaveLoadVersion _sl_version;
@@ -208,19 +210,32 @@ void SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions()
 		_sl_version = SLV_194;
 		_sl_is_faked_ext = true;
 		_sl_xv_feature_versions[XSLFI_TRACE_RESTRICT] = 1;
+		return true;
 	}
 	if (_sl_version == SL_TRACE_RESTRICT_2001) {
 		DEBUG(sl, 1, "Loading a trace restrict patch savegame version %d as version 195", _sl_version);
 		_sl_version = SLV_195;
 		_sl_is_faked_ext = true;
 		_sl_xv_feature_versions[XSLFI_TRACE_RESTRICT] = 6;
+		return true;
 	}
 	if (_sl_version == SL_TRACE_RESTRICT_2002) {
 		DEBUG(sl, 1, "Loading a trace restrict patch savegame version %d as version 196", _sl_version);
 		_sl_version = SLV_196;
 		_sl_is_faked_ext = true;
 		_sl_xv_feature_versions[XSLFI_TRACE_RESTRICT] = 6;
+		return true;
 	}
+	if (_sl_version >= SL_SPRING_2013_v2_0_102 && _sl_version <= SL_SPRING_2013_v2_4) { /* 220 - 227 */
+		_sl_maybe_springpp = true;
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+void SlXvSpringPPSpecialSavegameVersions()
+{
+	extern SaveLoadVersion _sl_version;
 
 	if (_sl_version == SL_SPRING_2013_v2_0_102) { /* 220 */
 		DEBUG(sl, 1, "Loading a SpringPP 2013 v2.0.102 savegame version %d as version 187", _sl_version);
diff --git a/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.h b/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.h
index a52e0c955a..7ae414f9ab 100644
--- a/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.h
+++ b/src/saveload/extended_ver_sl.h
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ void SlXvResetState();
 
 void SlXvSetCurrentState();
 
-void SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions();
+bool SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions();
 
 bool SlXvIsChunkDiscardable(uint32 id);
 
diff --git a/src/saveload/saveload.cpp b/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
index 7c54824668..d67aa8c10d 100644
--- a/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
+++ b/src/saveload/saveload.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ char _savegame_format[8];    ///< how to compress savegames
 bool _do_autosave;           ///< are we doing an autosave at the moment?
 
 extern bool _sl_is_ext_version;
+extern bool _sl_maybe_springpp;
 
 /** What are we currently doing? */
 enum SaveLoadAction {
@@ -1990,6 +1991,19 @@ void SlAutolength(AutolengthProc *proc, void *arg)
  * by adding a further u32 field for the high bits after the existing RIFF size field.
  */
 
+inline void SlRIFFSpringPPCheck(size_t len)
+{
+	if (_sl_maybe_springpp) {
+		_sl_maybe_springpp = false;
+		if (len == 0) {
+			extern void SlXvSpringPPSpecialSavegameVersions();
+			SlXvSpringPPSpecialSavegameVersions();
+		} else if (_sl_version > SAVEGAME_VERSION) {
+			SlError(STR_GAME_SAVELOAD_ERROR_TOO_NEW_SAVEGAME);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * Load a chunk of data (eg vehicles, stations, etc.)
  * @param ch The chunkhandler that will be used for the operation
@@ -2027,6 +2041,7 @@ static void SlLoadChunk(const ChunkHandler *ch)
 				/* Read length */
 				len = (SlReadByte() << 16) | ((m >> 4) << 24);
 				len += SlReadUint16();
+				SlRIFFSpringPPCheck(len);
 				if (SlXvIsFeaturePresent(XSLFI_RIFF_HEADER_60_BIT)) {
 					if (len != 0) {
 						SlErrorCorrupt("RIFF chunk too large");
@@ -2101,6 +2116,7 @@ static void SlLoadCheckChunk(const ChunkHandler *ch)
 				/* Read length */
 				len = (SlReadByte() << 16) | ((m >> 4) << 24);
 				len += SlReadUint16();
+				SlRIFFSpringPPCheck(len);
 				if (SlXvIsFeaturePresent(XSLFI_RIFF_HEADER_60_BIT)) {
 					if (len != 0) {
 						SlErrorCorrupt("RIFF chunk too large");
@@ -3134,17 +3150,18 @@ static SaveOrLoadResult DoLoad(LoadFilter *reader, bool load_check)
 			 * Therefore it is loaded, but never saved (or, it saves a 0 in any scenario). */
 			_sl_minor_version = (TO_BE32(hdr[1]) >> 8) & 0xFF;
 
+			bool special_version = false;
 			if (_sl_version & SAVEGAME_VERSION_EXT) {
 				_sl_version = (SaveLoadVersion)(_sl_version & ~SAVEGAME_VERSION_EXT);
 				_sl_is_ext_version = true;
 			} else {
-				SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions();
+				special_version = SlXvCheckSpecialSavegameVersions();
 			}
 
-			DEBUG(sl, 1, "Loading savegame version %d%s", _sl_version, _sl_is_ext_version ? " (extended)" : "");
+			DEBUG(sl, 1, "Loading savegame version %d%s%s", _sl_version, _sl_is_ext_version ? " (extended)" : "", _sl_maybe_springpp ? " which might be SpringPP" : "");
 
 			/* Is the version higher than the current? */
-			if (_sl_version > SAVEGAME_VERSION) SlError(STR_GAME_SAVELOAD_ERROR_TOO_NEW_SAVEGAME);
+			if (_sl_version > SAVEGAME_VERSION && !special_version) SlError(STR_GAME_SAVELOAD_ERROR_TOO_NEW_SAVEGAME);
 			break;
 		}