diff --git a/cell.cpp b/cell.cpp
index 5772e2ad..38ad590d 100644
--- a/cell.cpp
+++ b/cell.cpp
@@ -1790,7 +1790,10 @@ EX int auto_compute_range(cell *c) {
   return ginf[geometry].distlimit[0] = cgi.base_distlimit = d;
   }
 
+EX int alt_distlimit = UNKNOWN;
+
 EX int getDistLimit() {
+  if(alt_distlimit != UNKNOWN) return alt_distlimit;
   auto& res = cgi.base_distlimit;
   if(res) return res;
   if(arb::in() && arb::current.range)
diff --git a/hyper.h b/hyper.h
index d8fe2067..5d580d19 100644
--- a/hyper.h
+++ b/hyper.h
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ typedef function<int(struct cell*)> cellfunction;
 #define INFD 60
 #define PINFD 125
 #ifndef BARLEV
-#define BARLEV ((ISANDROID||ISIOS||ISFAKEMOBILE||getDistLimit()<7)?(getDistLimit()<4?8:9):10)
+#define BARLEV hr::get_BARLEV()
 #endif
 #define BUGLEV 15
 // #define BARLEV 9
diff --git a/landgen.cpp b/landgen.cpp
index 860e3964..4a6e2bbc 100644
--- a/landgen.cpp
+++ b/landgen.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,17 @@ EX int explore[10], exploreland[10][landtypes], landcount[landtypes];
 
 EX bool safety = false;
 
+EX int alt_BARLEV;
+
+EX int get_BARLEV() {
+  if(alt_BARLEV) return alt_BARLEV;
+  int d = getDistLimit();
+  bool lowmem = ISANDROID||ISIOS||ISFAKEMOBILE;
+  if(d<4) return 8;
+  if(lowmem || d < 7) return 9;
+  return 10;
+  }
+
 EX eLand lastland;
 
 EX int lastexplore;