diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 2dd3f54ea..2c9bf77e0 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -585,12 +585,24 @@ writeorder(struct gamedata *data, const struct order *ord,
 }
 
 int read_attribs(gamedata *data, attrib **alist, void *owner) {
+    int result;
     if (data->version < ATHASH_VERSION) {
-        return a_read_orig(data, alist, owner);
+        result = a_read_orig(data, alist, owner);
     }
     else {
-        return a_read(data, alist, owner);
+        result = a_read(data, alist, owner);
     }
+    if (result == AT_READ_DEPR) {
+        /* handle deprecated attributes */
+        attrib *a = *alist;
+        while (a) {
+            if (a->type->upgrade) {
+                a->type->upgrade(alist, a);
+            }
+            a = a->nexttype;
+        }
+    }
+    return result;
 }
 
 void write_attribs(storage *store, attrib *alist, const void *owner)
diff --git a/src/modules/gmcmd.c b/src/modules/gmcmd.c
index f450cd67f..b9e1bc342 100644
--- a/src/modules/gmcmd.c
+++ b/src/modules/gmcmd.c
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <kernel/order.h>
 #include <kernel/plane.h>
 #include <kernel/region.h>
+#include <kernel/save.h>
 #include <kernel/terrain.h>
 #include <kernel/terrainid.h>
 #include <kernel/unit.h>
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@
 static int read_permissions(attrib * a, void *owner, struct gamedata *data)
 {
     assert(!a);
-    a_read(data, &a, owner);
+    read_attribs(data, &a, owner);
     a_remove(&a, a);
     return AT_READ_OK;
 }
diff --git a/src/util/attrib.c b/src/util/attrib.c
index 841bf9559..c22570356 100644
--- a/src/util/attrib.c
+++ b/src/util/attrib.c
@@ -350,17 +350,7 @@ int a_read(gamedata *data, attrib ** attribs, void *owner) {
         }
         READ_INT(store, &key);
     }
-    if (retval == AT_READ_DEPR) {
-        /* handle deprecated attributes */
-        attrib *a = *attribs;
-        while (a) {
-            if (a->type->upgrade) {
-                a->type->upgrade(attribs, a);
-            }
-            a = a->nexttype;
-        }
-    }
-    return AT_READ_OK;
+    return retval;
 }
 
 int a_read_orig(gamedata *data, attrib ** attribs, void *owner)