diff --git a/src/build_reqs.h b/src/build_reqs.h
index 66fe94fe69db0..6b08bbf2a3b6e 100644
--- a/src/build_reqs.h
+++ b/src/build_reqs.h
@@ -40,6 +40,6 @@ struct parameterized_build_reqs {
 
 build_reqs get_build_reqs_for_furn_ter_ids(
     const std::pair<std::map<ter_id, int>, std::map<furn_id, int>> &changed_ids,
-    ter_id const &base_ter = t_dirt );
+    ter_id const &base_ter = ter_str_id( "t_dirt" ).id() );
 
 #endif // CATA_SRC_BUILD_REQS_H
diff --git a/src/map.h b/src/map.h
index 691507c8320ec..4c726dafaa315 100644
--- a/src/map.h
+++ b/src/map.h
@@ -1083,10 +1083,10 @@ class map
         void make_rubble( const tripoint &p, const furn_id &rubble_type, bool items,
                           const ter_id &floor_type, bool overwrite = false );
         void make_rubble( const tripoint &p, const furn_id &rubble_type, bool items ) {
-            make_rubble( p, rubble_type, items, t_dirt, false );
+            make_rubble( p, rubble_type, items, ter_str_id( "t_dirt" ).id(), false );
         }
         void make_rubble( const tripoint &p ) {
-            make_rubble( p, f_rubble, false, t_dirt, false );
+            make_rubble( p, f_rubble, false, ter_str_id( "t_dirt" ).id(), false );
         }
 
         bool is_outside( const tripoint &p ) const;
@@ -2633,7 +2633,7 @@ class fake_map : public tinymap
     private:
         std::vector<std::unique_ptr<submap>> temp_submaps_;
     public:
-        explicit fake_map( const ter_id &ter_type = t_dirt );
+        explicit fake_map( const ter_id &ter_type = ter_str_id( "t_dirt" ).id() );
         ~fake_map() override;
         static constexpr int fake_map_z = -OVERMAP_DEPTH;
 };
diff --git a/src/mapdata.cpp b/src/mapdata.cpp
index 39709b65c309d..1356494697264 100644
--- a/src/mapdata.cpp
+++ b/src/mapdata.cpp
@@ -742,12 +742,11 @@ void map_data_common_t::set_groups( std::bitset<NUM_TERCONN> &bits,
     }
 }
 
-ter_id t_null, t_dirt;
+ter_id t_null;
 
 void set_ter_ids()
 {
     t_null = ter_id( "t_null" );
-    t_dirt = ter_id( "t_dirt" );
 
     for( const ter_t &elem : terrain_data.get_all() ) {
         ter_t &ter = const_cast<ter_t &>( elem );
diff --git a/src/mapdata.h b/src/mapdata.h
index 10d480af2187a..cfb3cb6701e7b 100644
--- a/src/mapdata.h
+++ b/src/mapdata.h
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ t_basalt
 "t_basalt"
 */
 // NOLINTNEXTLINE(cata-static-int_id-constants)
-extern ter_id t_null, t_dirt;
+extern ter_id t_null;
 /*
 runtime index: furn_id
 furn_id refers to a position in the furnlist[] where the furn_t struct is stored. See note
diff --git a/src/mapgen_functions.h b/src/mapgen_functions.h
index a1a01d583e846..a41487861ef74 100644
--- a/src/mapgen_functions.h
+++ b/src/mapgen_functions.h
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ bool apply_construction_marker( const update_mapgen_id &update_mapgen_id,
                                 const mapgen_arguments &args, bool mirror_horizontal,
                                 bool mirror_vertical, int rotation, bool apply );
 std::pair<std::map<ter_id, int>, std::map<furn_id, int>> get_changed_ids_from_update(
-            const update_mapgen_id &, const mapgen_arguments &, ter_id const &base_ter = t_dirt );
+            const update_mapgen_id &, const mapgen_arguments &, ter_id const &base_ter = ter_str_id( "t_dirt" ).id() );
 mapgen_parameters get_map_special_params( const std::string &mapgen_id );
 
 void resolve_regional_terrain_and_furniture( const mapgendata &dat );