diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index fdfe9aad9..928feedf2 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ void read_spellbook(spellbook **bookp, struct storage *store, int(*get_level)(co
                 *bookp = create_spellbook(0);
                 sb = *bookp;
             }
-            if (global.data_version >= SPELLBOOK_VERSION || !spellbook_get(sb, sp)) {
+            if (level>0 && (global.data_version >= SPELLBOOK_VERSION || !spellbook_get(sb, sp))) {
                 spellbook_add(sb, sp, level);
             }
         }