diff --git a/scripts/run-turn.lua b/scripts/run-turn.lua
index 5e66fbc36..f47074f2e 100644
--- a/scripts/run-turn.lua
+++ b/scripts/run-turn.lua
@@ -150,13 +150,15 @@ function process(rules, orders)
   callbacks(rules, 'update')
   turn_end() -- ageing, etc.
 
-  write_files(config.locales)
-  update_scores()
+  if not config.debug then
+      write_files(config.locales)
+      update_scores()
 
-  file = '' .. get_turn() .. '.dat'
-  if eressea.write_game(file)~=0 then
-    eressea.log.error("could not write game")
-    return -1
+      file = '' .. get_turn() .. '.dat'
+      if eressea.write_game(file)~=0 then
+        eressea.log.error("could not write game")
+        return -1
+      end
   end
   return 0
 end
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index ed984413b..5ed288cec 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -82,9 +82,6 @@
 #define MAXORDERS 256
 #define MAXPERSISTENT 128
 
-/* exported symbols symbols */
-int g_writegame = 1;
-
 static void read_alliances(gamedata *data)
 {
     storage *store = data->store;
@@ -1773,9 +1770,6 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
     stream strm;
     FILE *F;
 
-    if (g_writegame == 0) {
-        return -1;
-    }
     create_directories();
     path_join(datapath(), filename, path, sizeof(path));
     /* make sure we don't overwrite an existing file (hard links) */
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.h b/src/kernel/save.h
index 267430a40..fbf383a48 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.h
+++ b/src/kernel/save.h
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ extern "C" {
      * dass hier ein Fehler (fehlende ") vorliegt */
 
     /* TODO: is this *really* still in use? */
-    extern int g_writegame;
-
     int readgame(const char *filename);
     int writegame(const char *filename);
 
diff --git a/src/main.c b/src/main.c
index 502d89395..e83ae4875 100644
--- a/src/main.c
+++ b/src/main.c
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static int parse_args(int argc, char **argv)
             const char *arg;
             switch (argi[1]) {
             case 'D':
-                g_writegame = 0;
+                config_set("config.debug", "1");
                 break;
             case 'c':
                 i = get_arg(argc, argv, 2, i, &arg, 0);