diff --git a/src/openttd.cpp b/src/openttd.cpp
index 8f61574fa7..be74b3b6e4 100644
--- a/src/openttd.cpp
+++ b/src/openttd.cpp
@@ -1124,6 +1124,8 @@ static void DoAutosave()
 		GenerateDefaultSaveName(buf, lastof(buf));
 		strecat(buf, ".sav", lastof(buf));
 	} else {
+		static int _autosave_ctr = 0;
+
 		/* generate a savegame name and number according to _settings_client.gui.max_num_autosaves */
 		snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "autosave%d.sav", _autosave_ctr);
 
diff --git a/src/variables.h b/src/variables.h
index 3325369dc5..5ef2d9c504 100644
--- a/src/variables.h
+++ b/src/variables.h
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ VARDEF int _palette_animation_counter;
 VARDEF uint32 _realtime_tick;
 
 VARDEF bool _do_autosave;
-VARDEF int _autosave_ctr;
 
 VARDEF byte _display_opt;