diff --git a/src/play_controller.cpp b/src/play_controller.cpp
index b373a2b91b90..ff016e8266f6 100644
--- a/src/play_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/play_controller.cpp
@@ -561,19 +561,17 @@ void play_controller::fire_preload()
 	gamedata_.get_variable("turn_number") = int(turn());
 	game_events::fire("preload");
 }
-void play_controller::fire_prestart(bool execute)
+void play_controller::fire_prestart()
 {
 	// pre-start events must be executed before any GUI operation,
 	// as those may cause the display to be refreshed.
-	if (execute){
-		update_locker lock_display(gui_->video());
-		gamedata_.set_phase(game_data::PRESTART);
-		game_events::fire("prestart");
-		check_end_level();
-		// prestart event may modify start turn with WML, reflect any changes.
-		start_turn_ = turn();
-		gamedata_.get_variable("turn_number") = int(start_turn_);
-	}
+	update_locker lock_display(gui_->video());
+	gamedata_.set_phase(game_data::PRESTART);
+	game_events::fire("prestart");
+	check_end_level();
+	// prestart event may modify start turn with WML, reflect any changes.
+	start_turn_ = turn();
+	gamedata_.get_variable("turn_number") = int(start_turn_);
 }
 
 void play_controller::fire_start(bool execute){
diff --git a/src/play_controller.hpp b/src/play_controller.hpp
index 79703e66cee2..b60abd5314e6 100644
--- a/src/play_controller.hpp
+++ b/src/play_controller.hpp
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ class play_controller : public controller_base, public events::observer, public
 	void init_managers();
 	///preload events cannot be synced
 	void fire_preload();
-	void fire_prestart(bool execute);
+	void fire_prestart();
 	void fire_start(bool execute);
 	virtual void init_gui();
 	possible_end_play_signal init_side(bool is_replay = false);
diff --git a/src/playsingle_controller.cpp b/src/playsingle_controller.cpp
index b45c239c9800..ba85932850c9 100644
--- a/src/playsingle_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/playsingle_controller.cpp
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ possible_end_play_signal playsingle_controller::play_scenario_init(end_level_dat
 		//we can only use a set_scontext_synced with a non empty recorder.
 		set_scontext_synced sync;
 			
-		HANDLE_END_PLAY_SIGNAL( fire_prestart(true) );
+		HANDLE_END_PLAY_SIGNAL( fire_prestart() );
 		init_gui();
 		past_prestart = true;
 		LOG_NG << "first_time..." << (recorder.is_skipping() ? "skipping" : "no skip") << "\n";
diff --git a/src/replay_controller.cpp b/src/replay_controller.cpp
index dd18fce0228d..770ab1b60103 100644
--- a/src/replay_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/replay_controller.cpp
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ void replay_controller::reset_replay()
 		*/
 		set_scontext_synced sync;
 		
-		fire_prestart(true);
+		fire_prestart();
 		init_gui();
 		fire_start(true);
 	}