diff --git a/src/server/game.cpp b/src/server/game.cpp
index 85bb5f596b5..8bffe3bc359 100644
--- a/src/server/game.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game.cpp
@@ -539,11 +539,11 @@ void game::change_controller(const size_t side_num,
 	if (started_) { //this is added instead of the if (started_) {...} below
 		simple_wml::document *record = new simple_wml::document;
 		simple_wml::node& recchg = record->root().add_child("record_change_controller");
-		recchg.set_attr("side", side.c_str());
-		recchg.set_attr("player", player_name.c_str());
-		recchg.set_attr("controller", (side_controllers_[side_num] == "ai" ? "network_ai" : "network"));
+		recchg.set_attr_dup("side", side.c_str());
+		recchg.set_attr_dup("player", player_name.c_str());
+		recchg.set_attr_dup("controller", (side_controllers_[side_num] == "ai" ? "network_ai" : "network"));
 
-		record_data(record);
+		record_data(record); //the purpose of these records is so that observers, replay viewers, get controller updates correctly
 	}
 
 	// Tell the new player that he controls this side now.