diff --git a/core/scripts/tests/common.lua b/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
index 88dae3080..cbc529d14 100755
--- a/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
+++ b/core/scripts/tests/common.lua
@@ -45,6 +45,29 @@ function setup()
     eressea.settings.set("NewbieImmunity", "0")
     eressea.settings.set("rules.economy.food", "4")
     eressea.settings.set("rules.encounters", "0")
+    eressea.settings.set("rules.peasants.growth", "1")
+end
+
+function test_no_peasant_growth()
+    local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
+    r:set_resource("peasant", 2000)
+    eressea.settings.set("rules.peasants.growth", "0")
+    process_orders()
+    assert_equal(r:get_resource("peasant"), 2000)
+end
+
+function test_demon_food()
+    local r = region.create(0, 0, "plain")
+    local f = faction.create("noreply@eressea.de", "demon", "de")
+    local u = unit.create(f, r, 1)
+    local p = r:get_resource("peasant")
+    r:set_resource("peasant", 2000)
+    eressea.settings.set("rules.economy.food", "0")
+    eressea.settings.set("rules.peasants.growth", "0")
+    process_orders()
+    assert_not_nil(u)
+    assert_equal(1, u.number)
+    assert_equal(1999, r:get_resource("peasant"))
 end
 
 function test_fleeing_units_can_be_transported()
diff --git a/core/src/bindings/bind_storage.c b/core/src/bindings/bind_storage.c
index fcf45c46a..4d982e00c 100644
--- a/core/src/bindings/bind_storage.c
+++ b/core/src/bindings/bind_storage.c
@@ -62,12 +62,10 @@ static int tolua_storage_read_unit(lua_State * L)
 
 static int tolua_storage_write_unit(lua_State * L)
 {
-  gamedata *data = (gamedata *)tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
-  struct unit *u = (struct unit *)tolua_tousertype(L, 2, 0);
-  if (global.data_version) {
+    gamedata *data = (gamedata *)tolua_tousertype(L, 1, 0);
+    struct unit *u = (struct unit *)tolua_tousertype(L, 2, 0);
     write_unit(data, u);
-  }
-  return 0;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 static int tolua_storage_read_float(lua_State * L)
diff --git a/core/src/gamecode/laws.c b/core/src/gamecode/laws.c
index c2e89b3c4..7259612b3 100755
--- a/core/src/gamecode/laws.c
+++ b/core/src/gamecode/laws.c
@@ -938,7 +938,9 @@ void demographics(void)
          * und gewandert sind */
 
         calculate_emigration(r);
-        peasants(r);
+        if (get_param_int(global.parameters, "rules.peasants.growth", 1)) {
+            peasants(r);
+        }
         if (r->age > 20) {
           plagues(r, false);
         }