diff --git a/src/kernel/ally.c b/src/kernel/ally.c
index 1053f8e28..1f57609c7 100644
--- a/src/kernel/ally.c
+++ b/src/kernel/ally.c
@@ -105,16 +105,20 @@ void allies_write(gamedata * data, const allies *alist)
     write_faction_reference(NULL, data->store);
 }
 
-void allies_read(gamedata * data, allies **sfp)
+void allies_read(gamedata * data, allies **p_al)
 {
     for (;;) {
-        int aid, state;
+        faction *f;
+        int aid, status;
         READ_INT(data->store, &aid);
         /* TODO: deal with unresolved factions, somehow */
-        if (aid >=0) {
+        if (aid <= 0) {
             break;
         }
-        READ_INT(data->store, &state);
+        f = findfaction(aid);
+        if (!f) f = faction_create(aid);
+        READ_INT(data->store, &status);
+        allies_set(p_al, f, status);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/ally.test.c b/src/kernel/ally.test.c
index 92011c566..0b17870bb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/ally.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/ally.test.c
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static void test_ally(CuTest * tc)
     test_teardown();
 }
 
-static void test_allies_clone(CuTest * tc)
+static void test_ally_clone(CuTest * tc)
 {
     struct ally * al = NULL, *ac;
     struct faction * f;
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ CuSuite *get_ally_suite(void)
 {
     CuSuite *suite = CuSuiteNew();
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_ally);
+    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_ally_clone);
     SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_allies);
-    SUITE_ADD_TEST(suite, test_allies_clone);
     return suite;
 }