diff --git a/src/game_launcher.cpp b/src/game_launcher.cpp
index cd62da98acd..ddc741fcf65 100644
--- a/src/game_launcher.cpp
+++ b/src/game_launcher.cpp
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ game_launcher::game_launcher(const commandline_options& cmdline_opts)
 	if(cmdline_opts_.fps)
 		prefs::get().set_show_fps(true);
 	if(cmdline_opts_.fullscreen)
-		start_in_fullscreen_ = true;
+		prefs::get().set_fullscreen(true);
 	if(cmdline_opts_.load)
 		load_data_ = savegame::load_game_metadata{
 			savegame::save_index_class::default_saves_dir(), *cmdline_opts_.load};
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ game_launcher::game_launcher(const commandline_options& cmdline_opts)
 		test_scenarios_ = cmdline_opts_.unit_test;
 	}
 	if(cmdline_opts_.windowed)
-		start_in_fullscreen_ = false;
+		prefs::get().set_fullscreen(false);
 	if(cmdline_opts_.with_replay && load_data_)
 		load_data_->show_replay = true;
 	if(cmdline_opts_.translation_percent)
diff --git a/src/game_launcher.hpp b/src/game_launcher.hpp
index 2d27c8bd1a8..364be8fa1c2 100644
--- a/src/game_launcher.hpp
+++ b/src/game_launcher.hpp
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ private:
 	unit_test_result single_unit_test();
 
 	const commandline_options& cmdline_opts_;
-	bool start_in_fullscreen_ = false;
 
 	font::manager font_manager_;
 	const image::manager image_manager_;