diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 21fd66e97..8ad22558e 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -6441,8 +6441,9 @@ static void Command_Archivetest_f(void)
 	}
 
 	// test archive
-	CONS_Printf("LUA_Archive...\n");
-	LUA_Archive(&save, true);
+	CONS_Printf("LUA_Sync Archive...\n");
+	save.write = true;
+	LUA_Sync(&save, true, false);
 	WRITEUINT8(save.p, 0x7F);
 	wrote = (UINT32)(save.p - save.buffer);
 
@@ -6452,8 +6453,9 @@ static void Command_Archivetest_f(void)
 
 	// test unarchive
 	save.p = save.buffer;
-	CONS_Printf("LUA_UnArchive...\n");
-	LUA_UnArchive(&save, true, false);
+	save.write = false;
+	CONS_Printf("LUA_Sync Unarchive...\n");
+	LUA_Sync(&save, true, false);
 	i = READUINT8(save.p);
 	if (i != 0x7F || wrote != (UINT32)(save.p - save.buffer))
 	{
diff --git a/src/g_demo.c b/src/g_demo.c
index 388142013..141916b44 100644
--- a/src/g_demo.c
+++ b/src/g_demo.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 // SRB2Kart
 #include "d_netfil.h" // nameonly
 
-#include "lua_script.h" // LUA_ArchiveDemo and LUA_UnArchiveDemo
+#include "lua_script.h" // LUA_Sync
 #include "lua_libs.h" // gL (Lua state)
 
 #include "k_kart.h"
@@ -2940,7 +2940,7 @@ void G_BeginRecording(void)
 
 	// player lua vars, always saved even if empty
 	if (demoflags & DF_LUAVARS)
-		LUA_Archive(&demobuf, false);
+		LUA_Sync(&demobuf, false, false);
 
 	memset(&oldcmd,0,sizeof(oldcmd));
 	memset(&oldghost,0,sizeof(oldghost));
@@ -3793,7 +3793,7 @@ void G_DoPlayDemo(char *defdemoname)
 			LUA_ClearState();
 
 		// No modeattacking check, DF_LUAVARS won't be present here.
-		LUA_UnArchive(&demobuf, false, G_CompatLevel(0x0002));
+		LUA_Sync(&demobuf, false, G_CompatLevel(0x0002));
 	}
 
 	splitscreen = 0;
diff --git a/src/lua_script.c b/src/lua_script.c
index 6d32162ac..ed719bcbb 100644
--- a/src/lua_script.c
+++ b/src/lua_script.c
@@ -1846,8 +1846,9 @@ void LUA_Step(void)
 	}
 }
 
-void LUA_Archive(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network)
+void LUA_Sync(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network, boolean compat)
 {
+	UINT32 mobjnum;
 	INT32 i;
 	thinker_t *th;
 
@@ -1858,71 +1859,60 @@ void LUA_Archive(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network)
 	{
 		if (!playeringame[i] && i > 0)	// NEVER skip player 0, this is for dedi servs.
 			continue;
+
 		// all players in game will be archived, even if they just add a 0.
-		ArchiveExtVars(&save->p, &players[i], "player");
+		if (save->write)
+			ArchiveExtVars(&save->p, &players[i], "player");
+		else
+			UnArchiveExtVars(&save->p, &players[i], compat);
 	}
 
-	if (network == true)
+	if (save->write)
 	{
-		if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+		if (network == true)
 		{
-			for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
+			if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
 			{
-				if (th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
-					continue;
+				for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
+				{
+					if (th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
+						continue;
 
-				// archive function will determine when to skip mobjs,
-				// and write mobjnum in otherwise.
-				ArchiveExtVars(&save->p, th, "mobj");
+					// archive function will determine when to skip mobjs,
+					// and write mobjnum in otherwise.
+					ArchiveExtVars(&save->p, th, "mobj");
+				}
 			}
+
+			WRITEUINT32(save->p, UINT32_MAX); // end of mobjs marker, replaces mobjnum.
+
+			LUA_HookNetArchive(NetArchive, save); // call the NetArchive hook in archive mode
 		}
-		
-		WRITEUINT32(save->p, UINT32_MAX); // end of mobjs marker, replaces mobjnum.
 
-		LUA_HookNetArchive(NetArchive, save); // call the NetArchive hook in archive mode
+		ArchiveTables(&save->p);
 	}
-
-	ArchiveTables(&save->p);
-
-	if (gL)
-		lua_pop(gL, 1); // pop tables
-}
-
-void LUA_UnArchive(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network, boolean compat)
-{
-	UINT32 mobjnum;
-	INT32 i;
-	thinker_t *th;
-
-	if (gL)
-		lua_newtable(gL); // tables to be read
-
-	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+	else
 	{
-		if (!playeringame[i] && i > 0)	// same here, this is to synch dediservs properly.
-			continue;
-		UnArchiveExtVars(&save->p, &players[i], compat);
+		if (network == true)
+		{
+			do {
+				mobjnum = READUINT32(save->p); // read a mobjnum
+				for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
+				{
+					if (th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
+						continue;
+					if (((mobj_t *)th)->mobjnum != mobjnum) // find matching mobj
+						continue;
+					UnArchiveExtVars(&save->p, th, false); // apply variables
+				}
+			} while(mobjnum != UINT32_MAX); // repeat until end of mobjs marker.
+
+			LUA_HookNetArchive(NetUnArchive, save); // call the NetArchive hook in unarchive mode
+		}
+
+		UnArchiveTables(&save->p, compat);
 	}
 
-	if (network == true)
-	{
-		do {
-			mobjnum = READUINT32(save->p); // read a mobjnum
-			for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
-			{
-				if (th->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
-					continue;
-				if (((mobj_t *)th)->mobjnum != mobjnum) // find matching mobj
-					continue;
-				UnArchiveExtVars(&save->p, th, false); // apply variables
-			}
-		} while(mobjnum != UINT32_MAX); // repeat until end of mobjs marker.
-
-		LUA_HookNetArchive(NetUnArchive, save); // call the NetArchive hook in unarchive mode
-	}
-
-	UnArchiveTables(&save->p, compat);
-
 	if (gL)
 		lua_pop(gL, 1); // pop tables
 }
diff --git a/src/lua_script.h b/src/lua_script.h
index 084333f8d..41b9ee590 100644
--- a/src/lua_script.h
+++ b/src/lua_script.h
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ void LUA_DumpFile(const char *filename);
 #endif
 fixed_t LUA_EvalMath(const char *word);
 void LUA_Step(void);
-void LUA_Archive(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network);
-void LUA_UnArchive(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network, boolean compat);
+void LUA_Sync(savebuffer_t *save, boolean network, boolean compat);
 
 void LUA_SetCFunctionField(lua_State *L, const char *name, lua_CFunction value);
 
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index cfe2e3d17..edd0ce146 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -4476,7 +4476,7 @@ void P_SaveNetGame(savebuffer_t *save, boolean resending)
 	}
 
 	ACS_Archive(save);
-	LUA_Archive(save, true);
+	LUA_Sync(save, true, false);
 
 	P_ArchiveLuabanksAndConsistency(save);
 
@@ -4529,7 +4529,7 @@ boolean P_LoadNetGame(savebuffer_t *save, boolean reloading)
 	}
 
 	ACS_UnArchive(save);
-	LUA_UnArchive(save, true, false);
+	LUA_Sync(save, true, false);
 
 	// This is stupid and hacky, but maybe it'll work!
 	P_SetRandSeed(P_GetInitSeed());