diff --git a/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp b/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
index 690ec9f7ac50..cf67874616df 100644
--- a/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
+++ b/src/game_initialization/connect_engine.cpp
@@ -901,6 +901,11 @@ side_engine::side_engine(const config& cfg, connect_engine& parent_engine, const
 		cfg_["save_id"] = parent_.scenario()["id"].str() + "_" + std::to_string(index);
 	}
 
+	if(cfg_["controller"] != "human" && cfg_["controller"] != "ai" && cfg_["controller"] != "null") {
+		//an invalid contoller type was specified. Remove it to prevent asertion failures later.
+		cfg_.remove_attribute("controller");
+	}
+
 	update_controller_options();
 
 	// Tweak the controllers.
@@ -908,11 +913,6 @@ side_engine::side_engine(const config& cfg, connect_engine& parent_engine, const
 		cfg_["controller"] = "ai";
 	}
 
-	if(cfg_["controller"] != "human" && cfg_["controller"] != "ai" && cfg_["controller"] != "null") {
-		//an invalid contoller type was specified. Remove it to prevent asertion failures later.
-		cfg_.remove_attribute("controller");
-	}
-
 	if(cfg_["controller"] == "null") {
 		set_controller(CNTR_EMPTY);
 	} else if(cfg_["controller"] == "ai") {