diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
index 1f0fd817..d2fdddaf 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
@@ -1357,7 +1357,7 @@ void Game::updatestate()
             {
                 returntomenu(Menu::levellist);
             }
-            else if (telesummary != "" || quicksummary != "" || anything_unlocked())
+            else if (save_exists() || anything_unlocked())
             {
                 returntomenu(Menu::play);
             }
@@ -7031,7 +7031,7 @@ void Game::createmenu( enum Menu::MenuName t, bool samemenu/*= false*/ )
             }
             else
             {
-                if (telesummary != "" || quicksummary != "")
+                if (save_exists())
                 {
                     option("continue");
                 }
@@ -7045,7 +7045,7 @@ void Game::createmenu( enum Menu::MenuName t, bool samemenu/*= false*/ )
                     option("secret lab", !map.invincibility && slowdown == 30);
                 }
                 option("play modes");
-                if (telesummary != "" || quicksummary != "")
+                if (save_exists())
                 {
                     option("new game");
                 }
@@ -7346,3 +7346,8 @@ bool Game::anything_unlocked()
     }
     return false;
 }
+
+bool Game::save_exists()
+{
+    return telesummary != "" || quicksummary != "";
+}
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.h b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
index aa98fe16..d48b70cb 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
@@ -328,6 +328,7 @@ public:
     std::string activity_lastprompt;
 
     std::string telesummary, quicksummary, customquicksummary;
+    bool save_exists();
 
     bool backgroundtext;
 
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
index b003ceb4..d14cde31 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ void menuactionpress()
 #if !defined(MAKEANDPLAY)
         case 0:
             //Play
-            if (game.telesummary == "" && game.quicksummary == "" && !game.anything_unlocked())
+            if (!game.save_exists() && !game.anything_unlocked())
             {
                 //No saves exist, just start a new game
                 game.mainmenu = 0;
@@ -950,12 +950,12 @@ void menuactionpress()
         //Do we have the Secret Lab option?
         int sloffset = game.unlock[8] ? 0 : -1;
         //Do we have a telesave or quicksave?
-        int ngoffset = game.telesummary != "" || game.quicksummary != "" ? 0 : -1;
+        int ngoffset = game.save_exists() ? 0 : -1;
         if (game.currentmenuoption == 0)
         {
             //continue
             //right, this depends on what saves you've got
-            if (game.telesummary == "" && game.quicksummary == "")
+            if (!game.save_exists())
             {
                 //You have no saves but have something unlocked, or you couldn't have gotten here
                 game.mainmenu = 0;
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ void menuactionpress()
             game.createmenu(Menu::playmodes);
             map.nexttowercolour();
         }
-        else if (game.currentmenuoption == sloffset+3 && (game.telesummary != "" || game.quicksummary != ""))
+        else if (game.currentmenuoption == sloffset+3 && game.save_exists())
         {
             //newgame
             music.playef(11);