diff --git a/init.c b/init.c
index 02ae91bc7..4e3923bfb 100644
--- a/init.c
+++ b/init.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "gl_init.h"
 #include "hud.h"
 #include "items.h"
+#include "item_lists.h"
 #include "keys.h"
 #include "knowledge.h"
 #include "langselwin.h"
@@ -374,6 +375,8 @@ void read_bin_cfg()
 	rz=cfg_mem.camera_z;
 	new_zoom_level=zoom_level=cfg_mem.zoom_level;
 
+	item_lists_set_active(cfg_mem.active_item_list);
+
 	view_health_bar=cfg_mem.banner_settings & 1;
 	view_ether_bar=(cfg_mem.banner_settings >> 1) & 1;
 	view_names=(cfg_mem.banner_settings >> 2) & 1;
@@ -619,6 +622,8 @@ void save_bin_cfg()
 	cfg_mem.banner_settings |= view_hp << 3;
 	cfg_mem.banner_settings |= view_ether << 4;
 
+	cfg_mem.active_item_list = item_lists_get_active();
+
 	cfg_mem.quantity_selected=(quantities.selected<ITEM_EDIT_QUANT)?quantities.selected :0;
 
 	if(quickbar_relocatable>0)
diff --git a/init.h b/init.h
index b1810e748..3afa121cf 100644
--- a/init.h
+++ b/init.h
@@ -121,8 +121,13 @@ typedef struct
 	int banner_settings;
 	/*! @} */
 
+	/*!
+	 * \name Item lists - active list index.
+	 */
+	/*! @{ */
+	unsigned int active_item_list;
+		
 	int unused_01;
-	int unused_02;
 
 	/*!
 	 * \name quest log window position
diff --git a/item_lists.cpp b/item_lists.cpp
index f0acbd4a3..3e482e2c6 100644
--- a/item_lists.cpp
+++ b/item_lists.cpp
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ namespace ItemLists
 	class List_Container
 	{
 		public:
-			List_Container(void) : active_list(0), last_mod_time(0), loaded(false) {}
+			List_Container(void) : active_list(0), initial_active_list(0), last_mod_time(0), loaded(false) {}
 			void load(void);
 			void save(void);
 			bool add(const char *name);
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ namespace ItemLists
 			const std::vector<List> & get_lists(void) const { return saved_item_lists; }
 			bool set_active(size_t new_active_list)
 				{ if (new_active_list >= size()) return false; active_list = new_active_list; return true; }
+			void set_initial_active(size_t list_index) { initial_active_list = list_index; }
 			void set_quantity(size_t item, int quantity)
 				{ assert(valid_active_list()); last_mod_time = SDL_GetTicks(); return saved_item_lists[active_list].set_quantity(item, quantity); }
 			void del_item(size_t i)
@@ -135,8 +136,9 @@ namespace ItemLists
 			void check_and_timed_save(bool force);
 		private:
 			std::vector<List> saved_item_lists;
-			static size_t FILE_REVISION;
+			static int FILE_REVISION;
 			size_t active_list;
+			size_t initial_active_list;
 			Uint32 last_mod_time;
 			bool loaded;
 			static const char * filename;
@@ -630,7 +632,7 @@ namespace ItemLists
 	}
 
 
-	size_t List_Container::FILE_REVISION = 2;
+	int List_Container::FILE_REVISION = 2;
 	const char * List_Container::filename = "item_lists.txt";
 
 	//  Save the item lists to a file in players config directory
@@ -647,7 +649,7 @@ namespace ItemLists
 			LOG_TO_CONSOLE(c_red2, item_list_save_error_str);
 			return;
 		}
-		out << FILE_REVISION << " " << get_active() << std::endl << std::endl;
+		out << FILE_REVISION << std::endl << std::endl;
 		for (size_t i=0; i<saved_item_lists.size(); ++i)
 		{
 			saved_item_lists[i].write(out);
@@ -668,24 +670,8 @@ namespace ItemLists
 		std::ifstream in(fullpath.c_str());
 		if (!in)
 			return;
-
-		// First line is "<file revision> [<active list>]", other parameters could be added....
-		size_t revision = 0;
-		size_t initial_active = 0;
-		std::string first_line;
-		if (getline_nocr(in, first_line) && !first_line.empty())
-		{
-			std::vector<size_t> values;
-			std::istringstream ss(first_line);
-			size_t value = 0;
-			while (ss >> value)
-				values.push_back(value);
-			if (values.size() > 0)
-				revision = values[0];
-			if (values.size() > 1)
-				initial_active = values[1];
-		}
-
+		int revision;
+		in >> revision;
 		if (revision != FILE_REVISION)
 		{
 			LOG_ERROR("%s: %s [%s]\n", __FILE__, item_list_version_error_str, fullpath.c_str() );
@@ -708,7 +694,7 @@ namespace ItemLists
 		}
 		in.close();
 		sort_list();
-		set_active(initial_active);
+		set_active(initial_active_list);
 	}
 
 
@@ -1530,9 +1516,20 @@ extern "C"
 		ItemLists::Vars::lists()->save();
 		ItemLists::Vars::cat_maps()->save();
 	}
-
+	
+	unsigned int item_lists_get_active(void)
+	{
+		return static_cast<unsigned int>(ItemLists::Vars::lists()->get_active());
+	}
+	
+	void item_lists_set_active(unsigned int active_list)
+	{
+		ItemLists::Vars::lists()->set_initial_active(static_cast<size_t>(active_list));
+	}
+	
 	void item_lists_reset_pickup_fail_time(void)
 	{
 		ItemLists::Vars::win()->reset_pickup_fail_time();
 	}
+
 }
diff --git a/item_lists.h b/item_lists.h
index 9fe2be0d9..d487a0385 100644
--- a/item_lists.h
+++ b/item_lists.h
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ extern "C"
 void toggle_items_list_window(window_info *win);
 void update_category_maps(int image_id, Uint16 item_id, int cat_id);
 void save_item_lists(void);
+unsigned int item_lists_get_active(void);
+void item_lists_set_active(unsigned int active_list);
 void item_lists_reset_pickup_fail_time(void);
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus