diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
index c3400fa2d3..a2c6fcec99 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/map/TileMap.kt
@@ -144,7 +144,9 @@ class TileMap {
             var tryCount = 0
             var potentialCandidates = getPassableNeighbours(currentTile)
             while (unitToPlaceTile == null && tryCount++ < 10) {
-                unitToPlaceTile = potentialCandidates.firstOrNull { unit.movement.canMoveTo(it) }
+                unitToPlaceTile = potentialCandidates
+                        .sortedByDescending { if(unit.type.isLandUnit()) it.isLand else true } // Land units should prefer to go into land tiles
+                        .firstOrNull { unit.movement.canMoveTo(it) }
                 if (unitToPlaceTile != null) continue
                 // if it's not found yet, let's check their neighbours
                 val newPotentialCandidates = mutableSetOf<TileInfo>()