diff --git a/src/kernel/building.c b/src/kernel/building.c
index ebb8c3e79..57b8a91e2 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.c
+++ b/src/kernel/building.c
@@ -322,8 +322,6 @@ void write_building_reference(const struct building *b, struct storage *store)
     WRITE_INT(store, (b && b->region) ? b->no : 0);
 }
 
-#define RESOLVE_BUILDING (TYP_BUILDING << 24)
-
 void resolve_building(building *b)
 {
     resolve(RESOLVE_BUILDING | b->no, b);
diff --git a/src/kernel/building.h b/src/kernel/building.h
index efa00034d..af29c324b 100644
--- a/src/kernel/building.h
+++ b/src/kernel/building.h
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "build.h"
 #define NOBUILDING NULL
 
+#define RESOLVE_BUILDING (TYP_BUILDING << 24)
     void resolve_building(building *b);
     void write_building_reference(const struct building *b,
     struct storage *store);
diff --git a/src/kernel/faction.c b/src/kernel/faction.c
index c3f0fa814..98e49bd84 100755
--- a/src/kernel/faction.c
+++ b/src/kernel/faction.c
@@ -317,8 +317,6 @@ bool checkpasswd(const faction * f, const char *passwd)
     return true;
 }
 
-#define RESOLVE_FACTION (TYP_FACTION << 24)
-
 void resolve_faction(faction *f)
 {
     resolve(RESOLVE_FACTION | f->no, f);
diff --git a/src/kernel/faction.h b/src/kernel/faction.h
index e2272c396..a04acabfa 100644
--- a/src/kernel/faction.h
+++ b/src/kernel/faction.h
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ extern "C" {
     void write_faction_reference(const struct faction *f,
         struct storage *store);
     int read_faction_reference(struct gamedata *data, struct faction **fp, resolve_fun fun);
+
+#define RESOLVE_FACTION (TYP_FACTION << 24)
     void resolve_faction(struct faction *f);
 
     void renumber_faction(faction * f, int no);
diff --git a/src/kernel/group.c b/src/kernel/group.c
index 650679b3f..2c6b28bec 100755
--- a/src/kernel/group.c
+++ b/src/kernel/group.c
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 #include "ally.h"
 #include "faction.h"
 #include "unit.h"
+#include "objtypes.h"
 
 /* attrib includes */
 #include <attributes/raceprefix.h>
@@ -239,9 +240,13 @@ void read_groups(gamedata *data, faction * f)
         pa = &g->allies;
         for (;;) {
             ally *al;
+            int id;
+            READ_INT(store, &id);
+            if (id == 0) break;
             al = ally_add(pa, NULL);
-            if (read_faction_reference(data, &al->faction, NULL) <= 0) {
-                break;
+            al->faction = findfaction(id);
+            if (!al->faction) {
+                ur_add(RESOLVE_FACTION | id, (void **)&al->faction, NULL);
             }
             READ_INT(store, &al->status);
         }
diff --git a/src/kernel/region.c b/src/kernel/region.c
index 3d4e058ea..c7e3841fb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/region.c
+++ b/src/kernel/region.c
@@ -1255,8 +1255,6 @@ int production(const region * r)
     return p;
 }
 
-#define RESOLVE_REGION (TYP_REGION << 24)
-
 void resolve_region(region *r)
 {
     resolve(RESOLVE_REGION | r->uid, r);
diff --git a/src/kernel/region.h b/src/kernel/region.h
index 057f28729..7f86f397f 100644
--- a/src/kernel/region.h
+++ b/src/kernel/region.h
@@ -259,9 +259,10 @@ extern "C" {
     int region_get_morale(const region * r);
     void region_set_morale(region * r, int morale, int turn);
 
+#define RESOLVE_REGION (TYP_REGION << 24)
+    void resolve_region(region *r);
     void write_region_reference(const struct region *r, struct storage *store);
     int read_region_reference(struct gamedata *data, region **rp, resolve_fun fun);
-    void resolve_region(region *r);
 
     const char *regionname(const struct region *r, const struct faction *f);
 
diff --git a/src/kernel/unit.c b/src/kernel/unit.c
index b00e1717c..2c6378ca1 100644
--- a/src/kernel/unit.c
+++ b/src/kernel/unit.c
@@ -749,8 +749,6 @@ void write_unit_reference(const unit * u, struct storage *store)
     WRITE_INT(store, (u && u->region) ? u->no : 0);
 }
 
-#define RESOLVE_UNIT (TYP_UNIT << 24)
-
 void resolve_unit(unit *u)
 {
     resolve(RESOLVE_UNIT | u->no, u);
diff --git a/src/kernel/unit.h b/src/kernel/unit.h
index dde183eb4..d80c0ec79 100644
--- a/src/kernel/unit.h
+++ b/src/kernel/unit.h
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ extern "C" {
     void make_zombie(struct unit * u);
 
     /* see resolve.h */
+#define RESOLVE_UNIT (TYP_UNIT << 24)
     void resolve_unit(struct unit *u);
     void write_unit_reference(const struct unit *u, struct storage *store);
     int read_unit_reference(struct gamedata * data, struct unit **up, resolve_fun fun);
diff --git a/src/triggers/changefaction.c b/src/triggers/changefaction.c
index fb5805618..6a2700afa 100644
--- a/src/triggers/changefaction.c
+++ b/src/triggers/changefaction.c
@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@ static int changefaction_read(trigger * t, gamedata *data)
     changefaction_data *td = (changefaction_data *)t->data.v;
 
     read_unit_reference(data, &td->unit, NULL);
-    read_faction_reference(data, &td->faction, NULL);
-    return AT_READ_OK;
+    return read_faction_reference(data, &td->faction, NULL) > 0 ? AT_READ_OK : AT_READ_FAIL;
 }
 
 trigger_type tt_changefaction = {