diff --git a/src/kernel/connection.c b/src/kernel/connection.c
index dbf29bff9..257a78af3 100644
--- a/src/kernel/connection.c
+++ b/src/kernel/connection.c
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ int read_borders(struct storage *store)
                 type->read(b, store);
             if (global.data_version < NOBORDERATTRIBS_VERSION) {
                 attrib *a = NULL;
-                int result = a_read(store, &a, b);
+                int result = read_attribs(store, &a, b);
                 if (border_convert_cb) {
                     border_convert_cb(b, a);
                 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/group.c b/src/kernel/group.c
index 35f7e93a7..7d57511d1 100755
--- a/src/kernel/group.c
+++ b/src/kernel/group.c
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ void write_groups(struct storage *store, const faction * f)
             }
         }
         WRITE_INT(store, 0);
-        a_write(store, g->attribs, g);
+        write_attribs(store, g->attribs, g);
         WRITE_SECTION(store);
     }
     WRITE_INT(store, 0);
@@ -241,6 +241,6 @@ void read_groups(struct storage *store, faction * f)
             if (!a->faction)
                 ur_add(fid, &a->faction, resolve_faction);
         }
-        a_read(store, &g->attribs, g);
+        read_attribs(store, &g->attribs, g);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.c b/src/kernel/save.c
index 7e5112443..c5239d2a5 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.c
@@ -577,6 +577,23 @@ const struct locale *lang)
         WRITE_STR(data->store, obuf);
 }
 
+int read_attribs(storage *store, attrib **alist, void *owner) {
+#if RELEASE_VERSION < ATHASH_VERSION
+    return a_read_orig(store, alist, owner);
+#else
+    return a_read(store, alist, owner);
+#endif
+}
+
+void write_attribs(storage *store, attrib *alist, const void *owner)
+{
+#if RELEASE_VERSION < ATHASH_VERSION
+    a_write_orig(store, alist, owner);
+#else
+    a_write(store, alist, owner);
+#endif
+}
+
 unit *read_unit(struct gamedata *data)
 {
     unit *u;
@@ -748,8 +765,7 @@ unit *read_unit(struct gamedata *data)
         log_error("Einheit %s hat %u Personen, und %u Trefferpunkte\n", itoa36(u->no), u->number, u->hp);
         u->hp = u->number;
     }
-
-    a_read(data->store, &u->attribs, u);
+    read_attribs(data->store, &u->attribs, u);
     return u;
 }
 
@@ -823,7 +839,7 @@ void write_unit(struct gamedata *data, const unit * u)
     }
     WRITE_INT(data->store, u->hp);
     WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
-    a_write(data->store, u->attribs, u);
+    write_attribs(data->store, u->attribs, u);
     WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
 }
 
@@ -982,7 +998,7 @@ static region *readregion(struct gamedata *data, int x, int y)
             read_owner(data, &r->land->ownership);
         }
     }
-    a_read(data->store, &r->attribs, r);
+    read_attribs(data->store, &r->attribs, r);
     return r;
 }
 
@@ -1046,7 +1062,7 @@ void writeregion(struct gamedata *data, const region * r)
         WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
 #endif
     }
-    a_write(data->store, r->attribs, r);
+    write_attribs(data->store, r->attribs, r);
     WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
 }
 
@@ -1253,7 +1269,7 @@ faction *readfaction(struct gamedata * data)
         }
     }
 
-    a_read(data->store, &f->attribs, f);
+    read_attribs(data->store, &f->attribs, f);
     read_items(data->store, &f->items);
     for (;;) {
         READ_TOK(data->store, name, sizeof(name));
@@ -1338,7 +1354,7 @@ void writefaction(struct gamedata *data, const faction * f)
     WRITE_INT(data->store, f->magiegebiet);
 
     WRITE_INT(data->store, f->flags & FFL_SAVEMASK);
-    a_write(data->store, f->attribs, f);
+    write_attribs(data->store, f->attribs, f);
     WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
     write_items(data->store, f->items);
     WRITE_SECTION(data->store);
@@ -1451,7 +1467,7 @@ int readgame(const char *filename, bool backup)
     else {
         READ_STR(&store, NULL, 0);
     }
-    a_read(&store, &global.attribs, NULL);
+    read_attribs(&store, &global.attribs, NULL);
     READ_INT(&store, &turn);
     global.data_turn = turn;
     log_debug(" - reading turn %d\n", turn);
@@ -1512,7 +1528,7 @@ int readgame(const char *filename, bool backup)
                 fno = read_faction_reference(&store);
             }
         }
-        a_read(&store, &pl->attribs, pl);
+        read_attribs(&store, &pl->attribs, pl);
         if (pl->id != 1094969858) { // Regatta
             addlist(&planes, pl);
         }
@@ -1580,7 +1596,7 @@ int readgame(const char *filename, bool backup)
             READ_STR(&store, name, sizeof(name));
             b->type = bt_find(name);
             b->region = r;
-            a_read(&store, &b->attribs, b);
+            read_attribs(&store, &b->attribs, b);
             if (b->type == bt_lighthouse) {
                 r->flags |= RF_LIGHTHOUSE;
             }
@@ -1627,7 +1643,7 @@ int readgame(const char *filename, bool backup)
             if (sh->type->flags & SFL_NOCOAST) {
                 sh->coast = NODIRECTION;
             }
-            a_read(&store, &sh->attribs, sh);
+            read_attribs(&store, &sh->attribs, sh);
         }
 
         *shp = 0;
@@ -1777,7 +1793,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
     WRITE_INT(&store, game_id());
     WRITE_SECTION(&store);
 
-    a_write(&store, global.attribs, NULL);
+    write_attribs(&store, global.attribs, NULL);
     WRITE_SECTION(&store);
 
     WRITE_INT(&store, turn);
@@ -1807,7 +1823,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
             w = w->next;
         }
         write_faction_reference(NULL, &store);       /* mark the end of the list */
-        a_write(&store, pl->attribs, pl);
+        write_attribs(&store, pl->attribs, pl);
         WRITE_SECTION(&store);
     }
 
@@ -1852,7 +1868,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
             WRITE_INT(&store, b->size);
             WRITE_TOK(&store, b->type->_name);
             WRITE_SECTION(&store);
-            a_write(&store, b->attribs, b);
+            write_attribs(&store, b->attribs, b);
             WRITE_SECTION(&store);
         }
 
@@ -1870,7 +1886,7 @@ int writegame(const char *filename)
             assert((sh->type->flags & SFL_NOCOAST) == 0 || sh->coast == NODIRECTION);
             WRITE_INT(&store, sh->coast);
             WRITE_SECTION(&store);
-            a_write(&store, sh->attribs, sh);
+            write_attribs(&store, sh->attribs, sh);
             WRITE_SECTION(&store);
         }
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.h b/src/kernel/save.h
index ca364fc9c..10e872955 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.h
+++ b/src/kernel/save.h
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ extern "C" {
     void read_spellbook(struct spellbook **bookp, struct storage *store, int(*get_level)(const struct spell * sp, void *), void * cbdata);
     void write_spellbook(const struct spellbook *book, struct storage *store);
 
+    void write_attribs(struct storage *store, struct attrib *alist, const void *owner);
+    int read_attribs(struct storage *store, struct attrib **alist, void *owner);
+
     void write_unit(struct gamedata *data, const struct unit *u);
     struct unit *read_unit(struct gamedata *data);
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/save.test.c b/src/kernel/save.test.c
index 1b4028694..c2558c876 100644
--- a/src/kernel/save.test.c
+++ b/src/kernel/save.test.c
@@ -72,14 +72,14 @@ static void test_readwrite_attrib(CuTest *tc) {
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, data);
     add_key(&a, 41);
     add_key(&a, 42);
-    a_write(data->store, a, NULL);
+    write_attribs(data->store, a, NULL);
     gamedata_close(data);
     a_removeall(&a, NULL);
     CuAssertPtrEquals(tc, 0, a);
 
     data = gamedata_open(path, "rb");
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, data);
-    a_read(data->store, &a, NULL);
+    read_attribs(data->store, &a, NULL);
     gamedata_close(data);
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, find_key(a, 41));
     CuAssertPtrNotNull(tc, find_key(a, 42));
diff --git a/src/kernel/version.h b/src/kernel/version.h
index c18957530..1dae63f7f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/version.h
+++ b/src/kernel/version.h
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@
 #define OWNER_3_VERSION 349 /* regions store last owner, not last alliance */
 #define ATTRIBOWNER_VERSION 350 /* all attrib_type functions know who owns the attribute */
 #define CRYPT_VERSION 351 /* passwords are encrypted */
-#define RELEASE_VERSION CRYPT_VERSION /* current datafile */
+#define ATHASH_VERSION 352 /* attribute-type hash, not name */
+#define RELEASE_VERSION ATHASH_VERSION /* current datafile */
 #define MIN_VERSION INTPAK_VERSION      /* minimal datafile we support */
 #define MAX_VERSION RELEASE_VERSION /* change this if we can need to read the future datafile, and we can do so */
 
diff --git a/src/util/attrib.c b/src/util/attrib.c
index 837f9aff4..af93e5ad6 100644
--- a/src/util/attrib.c
+++ b/src/util/attrib.c
@@ -276,15 +276,79 @@ int a_age(attrib ** p, void *owner)
 
 static critbit_tree cb_deprecated = { 0 };
 
+
+typedef struct deprecated_s {
+    unsigned int hash;
+    int(*reader)(attrib *, void *, struct storage *);
+} deprecated_t;
+
 void at_deprecate(const char * name, int(*reader)(attrib *, void *, struct storage *))
 {
-    char buffer[64];
-    size_t len = strlen(name);
-    len = cb_new_kv(name, len, &reader, sizeof(reader), buffer);
-    cb_insert(&cb_deprecated, buffer, len);
+    deprecated_t value;
+    
+    value.hash = __at_hashkey(name);
+    value.reader = reader;
+    cb_insert(&cb_deprecated, &value, sizeof(value));
 }
 
-int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner)
+static int a_read_i(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner, unsigned int key) {
+    int retval = AT_READ_FAIL;
+    int(*reader)(attrib *, void *, struct storage *) = 0;
+    attrib_type *at = at_find(key);
+    attrib * na = 0;
+
+    if (at) {
+        reader = at->read;
+        na = a_new(at);
+    }
+    else {
+        void *match;
+        if (cb_find_prefix(&cb_deprecated, &key, sizeof(key), &match, 1, 0)>0) {
+            deprecated_t *value = (deprecated_t *)match;
+            reader = value->reader;
+        }
+        else {
+            log_error("unknown attribute hash: %u\n", key);
+            assert(at || !"attribute not registered");
+        }
+    }
+    if (reader) {
+        retval = reader(na, owner, store);
+        if (na) {
+            switch (retval) {
+            case AT_READ_OK:
+                a_add(attribs, na);
+                break;
+            case AT_READ_FAIL:
+                a_free(na);
+                break;
+            default:
+                assert(!"invalid return value");
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    else {
+        assert(!"error: no registered callback can read attribute");
+    }
+    return retval;
+}
+
+int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner) {
+    int key, retval = AT_READ_OK;
+    char zText[128];
+
+    zText[0] = 0;
+    key = -1;
+    READ_INT(store, &key);
+    while (key > 0 && retval == AT_READ_OK) {
+        retval = a_read_i(store, attribs, owner, key);
+        READ_INT(store, &key);
+    }
+    return retval;
+}
+
+int a_read_orig(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner)
 {
     int key, retval = AT_READ_OK;
     char zText[128];
@@ -292,52 +356,14 @@ int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner)
     zText[0] = 0;
     key = -1;
     READ_TOK(store, zText, sizeof(zText));
-    if (strcmp(zText, "end") == 0)
+    if (strcmp(zText, "end") == 0) {
         return retval;
-    else
+    }
+    else {
         key = __at_hashkey(zText);
-
-    while (key != -1) {
-        int(*reader)(attrib *, void *, struct storage *) = 0;
-        attrib_type *at = at_find(key);
-        attrib * na = 0;
-
-        if (at) {
-            reader = at->read;
-            na = a_new(at);
-        }
-        else {
-            void * kv = 0;
-            cb_find_prefix(&cb_deprecated, zText, strlen(zText) + 1, &kv, 1, 0);
-            if (kv) {
-                cb_get_kv(kv, &reader, sizeof(reader));
-            }
-            else {
-                fprintf(stderr, "attribute hash: %d (%s)\n", key, zText);
-                assert(at || !"attribute not registered");
-            }
-        }
-        if (reader) {
-            int i = reader(na, owner, store);
-            if (na) {
-                switch (i) {
-                case AT_READ_OK:
-                    a_add(attribs, na);
-                    break;
-                case AT_READ_FAIL:
-                    retval = AT_READ_FAIL;
-                    a_free(na);
-                    break;
-                default:
-                    assert(!"invalid return value");
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        else {
-            assert(!"error: no registered callback can read attribute");
-        }
-
+    }
+    while (key > 0) {
+        retval = a_read_i(store, attribs, owner, key);
         READ_TOK(store, zText, sizeof(zText));
         if (!strcmp(zText, "end"))
             break;
@@ -346,7 +372,24 @@ int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner)
     return retval;
 }
 
-void a_write(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs, const void *owner)
+void a_write(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs, const void *owner) {
+    const attrib *na = attribs;
+
+    while (na) {
+        if (na->type->write) {
+            assert(na->type->hashkey || !"attribute not registered");
+            WRITE_INT(store, na->type->hashkey);
+            na->type->write(na, owner, store);
+            na = na->next;
+        }
+        else {
+            na = na->nexttype;
+        }
+    }
+    WRITE_INT(store, 0);
+}
+
+void a_write_orig(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs, const void *owner)
 {
     const attrib *na = attribs;
 
diff --git a/src/util/attrib.h b/src/util/attrib.h
index 14adeffb8..705d127d3 100644
--- a/src/util/attrib.h
+++ b/src/util/attrib.h
@@ -72,11 +72,13 @@ extern "C" {
     extern int a_remove(attrib ** pa, attrib * at);
     extern void a_removeall(attrib ** a, const attrib_type * at);
     extern attrib *a_new(const attrib_type * at);
+    int a_age(attrib ** attribs, void *owner);
 
-    extern int a_age(attrib ** attribs, void *owner);
-    extern int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner);
-    extern void a_write(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs,
-        const void *owner);
+    int a_read_orig(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner);
+    void a_write_orig(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs, const void *owner);
+
+    int a_read(struct storage *store, attrib ** attribs, void *owner);
+    void a_write(struct storage *store, const attrib * attribs, const void *owner);
 
     void free_attribs(void);