diff --git a/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp b/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
index d52aa78f..99a8a369 100644
--- a/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
+++ b/rogueviz/nilrider/nilrider.cpp
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@ void initialize_all() {
   showstartmenu = false;
   stop_game();
   geometry = gNil;
+  variation = eVariation::pure;
   nil_set_geodesic();
   enable_canvas();
   patterns::canvasback = 0;