diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/GameStarter.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/GameStarter.kt
index ca49dc4d5f..fa1b1073b5 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/GameStarter.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/GameStarter.kt
@@ -31,8 +31,6 @@ class GameStarter{
         for (nationName in GameBasics.Nations.keys.filterNot { it=="Barbarians" || it==newGameParameters.nation }.shuffled()
                 .take(newGameParameters.numberOfEnemies)) {
             val civ = CivilizationInfo(nationName)
-            for (tech in gameInfo.getDifficulty().aiFreeTechs)
-                civ.tech.addTechnology(tech)
             gameInfo.civilizations.add(civ)
         }
 
@@ -41,6 +39,11 @@ class GameStarter{
 
         gameInfo.setTransients() // needs to be before placeBarbarianUnit because it depends on the tilemap having its gameinfo set
 
+        for (civInfo in gameInfo.civilizations.filter {!it.isBarbarianCivilization() && !it.isPlayerCivilization()}) {
+            for (tech in gameInfo.getDifficulty().aiFreeTechs)
+                civInfo.tech.addTechnology(tech)
+        }
+
         // and only now do we add units for everyone, because otherwise both the gameInfo.setTransients() and the placeUnit will both add the unit to the civ's unit list!
 
         for (civ in gameInfo.civilizations.filter { !it.isBarbarianCivilization() }) {