diff --git a/src/savegame_json.cpp b/src/savegame_json.cpp
index 92631d1f333d4..99829781b0eb0 100644
--- a/src/savegame_json.cpp
+++ b/src/savegame_json.cpp
@@ -3473,9 +3473,6 @@ void vehicle::deserialize( const JsonObject &data )
         auto it = vp.part().items.begin();
         auto end = vp.part().items.end();
         for( ; it != end; ++it ) {
-            if( it->needs_processing() ) {
-                active_items.add( *it, vp.mount() );
-            }
             // remove after 0.F
             if( savegame_loading_version < 33 ) {
                 migrate_item_charges( *it );
diff --git a/src/vehicle.cpp b/src/vehicle.cpp
index eb51c7fa5bbed..ac704ba92488b 100644
--- a/src/vehicle.cpp
+++ b/src/vehicle.cpp
@@ -5778,6 +5778,20 @@ void vehicle::enable_refresh()
     refresh();
 }
 
+void vehicle::refresh_active_item_cache()
+{
+    // Need to manually backfill the active item cache since the part loader can't call its vehicle.
+    for( const vpart_reference &vp : get_any_parts( VPFLAG_CARGO ) ) {
+        auto it = vp.part().items.begin();
+        auto end = vp.part().items.end();
+        for( ; it != end; ++it ) {
+            if( it->needs_processing() ) {
+                active_items.add( *it, vp.mount() );
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Refreshes all caches and refinds all parts. Used after the vehicle has had a part added or removed.
  * Makes indices of different part types so they're easy to find. Also calculates power drain.
@@ -6064,6 +6078,7 @@ void vehicle::refresh( const bool remove_fakes )
     zones_dirty = true;
     invalidate_mass();
     occupied_cache_pos = { -1, -1, -1 };
+    refresh_active_item_cache();
 }
 
 vpart_edge_info vehicle::get_edge_info( const point &mount ) const
diff --git a/src/vehicle.h b/src/vehicle.h
index a05ed1f3ef6dc..60a169a8b83b7 100644
--- a/src/vehicle.h
+++ b/src/vehicle.h
@@ -837,6 +837,9 @@ class vehicle
         //Refresh all caches and re-locate all parts
         void refresh( bool remove_fakes = true );
 
+        // Refresh active_item cache for vehicle parts
+        void refresh_active_item_cache();
+
         /**
          * Set stat for part constrained by range [0,durability]
          * @note does not invoke base @ref item::on_damage callback