diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/tools/mergestages.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/tools/mergestages.cpp
index 02fc551ab..176d35914 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/tools/mergestages.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/tools/mergestages.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ void CSMTools::ListLandTexturesMergeStage::perform (int stage, CSMDoc::Messages&
 
         // make sure record is loaded
         land.loadData (ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT | ESM::Land::DATA_VNML |
-            ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR | ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX | ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM);
+            ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR | ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX);
 
         if (const ESM::Land::LandData *data = land.getLandData (ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX))
         {
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ void CSMTools::MergeLandStage::perform (int stage, CSMDoc::Messages& messages)
         const CSMWorld::Land& land = record.get();
 
         land.loadData (ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR | ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT | ESM::Land::DATA_VNML |
-            ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX | ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM);
+            ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX);
 
         CSMWorld::Land newLand (land);
 
diff --git a/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp b/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
index 1cc4a2cbf..da4942eec 100644
--- a/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
+++ b/apps/opencs/model/world/data.cpp
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ bool CSMWorld::Data::continueLoading (CSMDoc::Messages& messages)
             if (index!=-1/* && !mBase*/)
                 mLand.getRecord (index).get().loadData (
                     ESM::Land::DATA_VHGT | ESM::Land::DATA_VNML | ESM::Land::DATA_VCLR |
-                    ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX | ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM);
+                    ESM::Land::DATA_VTEX);
 
             break;
         }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/globalmap.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/globalmap.cpp
index e89c3d147..50ba14770 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/globalmap.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/globalmap.cpp
@@ -155,16 +155,6 @@ namespace MWRender
             {
                 const ESM::Land* land = esmStore.get<ESM::Land>().search (x,y);
 
-                if (land)
-                {
-                    int mask = ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM;
-                    if (!land->isDataLoaded(mask))
-                        land->loadData(mask);
-                }
-
-                const ESM::Land::LandData *landData =
-                    land ? land->getLandData (ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM) : 0;
-
                 for (int cellY=0; cellY<mCellSize; ++cellY)
                 {
                     for (int cellX=0; cellX<mCellSize; ++cellX)
@@ -178,8 +168,8 @@ namespace MWRender
                         unsigned char r,g,b;
 
                         float y2 = 0;
-                        if (landData)
-                            y2 = (landData->mWnam[vertexY * 9 + vertexX] << 4) / 2048.f;
+                        if (land && (land->mDataTypes & ESM::Land::DATA_WNAM))
+                            y2 = (land->mWnam[vertexY * 9 + vertexX] << 4) / 2048.f;
                         else
                             y2 = (SCHAR_MIN << 4) / 2048.f;
                         if (y2 < 0)
@@ -218,8 +208,6 @@ namespace MWRender
                     }
                 }
                 loadingListener->increaseProgress();
-                if (land)
-                    land->unloadData();
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/components/esm/loadland.cpp b/components/esm/loadland.cpp
index 277190e8c..5e33e6082 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadland.cpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadland.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ namespace ESM
 
         mContext = esm.getContext();
 
+        mDataLoaded = 0;
+        mLandData = NULL;
+
         // Skip the land data here. Load it when the cell is loaded.
         while (esm.hasMoreSubs())
         {
@@ -91,7 +94,7 @@ namespace ESM
                     mDataTypes |= DATA_VHGT;
                     break;
                 case ESM::FourCC<'W','N','A','M'>::value:
-                    esm.skipHSub();
+                    esm.getHExact(mWnam, sizeof(mWnam));
                     mDataTypes |= DATA_WNAM;
                     break;
                 case ESM::FourCC<'V','C','L','R'>::value:
@@ -107,9 +110,6 @@ namespace ESM
                     break;
             }
         }
-
-        mDataLoaded = 0;
-        mLandData = NULL;
     }
 
     void Land::save(ESMWriter &esm, bool isDeleted) const
@@ -159,9 +159,14 @@ namespace ESM
                 }
                 esm.writeHNT("VHGT", offsets, sizeof(VHGT));
             }
-            if (mDataTypes & Land::DATA_WNAM) {
-                esm.writeHNT("WNAM", mLandData->mWnam, 81);
-            }
+        }
+
+        if (mDataTypes & Land::DATA_WNAM) {
+            esm.writeHNT("WNAM", mWnam, 81);
+        }
+
+        if (mLandData)
+        {
             if (mDataTypes & Land::DATA_VCLR) {
                 esm.writeHNT("VCLR", mLandData->mColours, 3*LAND_NUM_VERTS);
             }
@@ -216,9 +221,9 @@ namespace ESM
             }
         }
 
-        if (reader.isNextSub("WNAM")) {
-            condLoad(reader, flags, DATA_WNAM, mLandData->mWnam, 81);
-        }
+        if (reader.isNextSub("WNAM"))
+            reader.skipHSub();
+
         if (reader.isNextSub("VCLR"))
             condLoad(reader, flags, DATA_VCLR, mLandData->mColours, 3 * LAND_NUM_VERTS);
         if (reader.isNextSub("VTEX")) {
diff --git a/components/esm/loadland.hpp b/components/esm/loadland.hpp
index 1a39fa727..bdaf6cce8 100644
--- a/components/esm/loadland.hpp
+++ b/components/esm/loadland.hpp
@@ -96,14 +96,14 @@ struct Land
         // 24-bit RGB color for each vertex
         unsigned char mColours[3 * LAND_NUM_VERTS];
 
-        // low-LOD heightmap (used for rendering the global map)
-        signed char mWnam[81];
-
         // ???
         short mUnk1;
         uint8_t mUnk2;
     };
 
+    // low-LOD heightmap (used for rendering the global map)
+    signed char mWnam[81];
+
     void load(ESMReader &esm, bool &isDeleted);
     void save(ESMWriter &esm, bool isDeleted = false) const;