diff --git a/data/core/macros/ai_controller.cfg b/data/core/macros/ai_controller.cfg
index 473b31b644d..6a09bd2a3e3 100644
--- a/data/core/macros/ai_controller.cfg
+++ b/data/core/macros/ai_controller.cfg
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@
 
                             [insert_tag]
                                 name=value
-                                variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message
+                                variable=header_message
                             [/insert_tag]
                         [/set_variables]
 
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@
 
                             [insert_tag]
                                 name=value
-                                variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message
+                                variable=header_message
                             [/insert_tag]
                         [/set_variables]
 
@@ -758,6 +758,14 @@ Behavior: $ai_controller.side_$ally_side|_current_settings.currently_doing_behav
 <span color='black'>-</span>"}
                         # wmllint: display off
 
+                        [set_variables]
+                            name=header_message
+                            [insert_tag]
+                                name=value
+                                variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message
+                            [/insert_tag]
+                        [/set_variables]
+
                         [set_variables]
                             name=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message.option
 
@@ -770,7 +778,7 @@ Behavior: $ai_controller.side_$ally_side|_current_settings.currently_doing_behav
 
                                         [insert_tag]
                                             name=value
-                                            variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message
+                                            variable=header_message
                                         [/insert_tag]
                                     [/set_variables]
 
@@ -861,7 +869,7 @@ Behavior: $ai_controller.side_$ally_side|_current_settings.currently_doing_behav
 
                                         [insert_tag]
                                             name=value
-                                            variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message
+                                            variable=header_message
                                         [/insert_tag]
                                     [/set_variables]
 
@@ -971,6 +979,8 @@ Behavior: $ai_controller.side_$ally_side|_current_settings.currently_doing_behav
                             [/literal]
                         [/set_variables]
 
+                        {CLEAR_VARIABLE header_message}
+
                         [insert_tag]
                             name=message
                             variable=ai_controller_{AFFIX}.main_menu_message