diff --git a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
index eddd3c4f3ab..a7502dd8c22 100644
--- a/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
+++ b/source/blender/windowmanager/intern/wm_operators.c
@@ -2008,8 +2008,14 @@ static int wm_save_as_mainfile_exec(bContext *C, wmOperator *op)
 	if(RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "relative_remap"))	fileflags |=  G_FILE_RELATIVE_REMAP;
 	else											fileflags &= ~G_FILE_RELATIVE_REMAP;
 #ifdef USE_BMESH_SAVE_AS_COMPAT
-	if(RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "use_mesh_compat"))	fileflags |=  G_FILE_MESH_COMPAT;
-	else											fileflags &= ~G_FILE_MESH_COMPAT;
+	/* property only exists for 'Save As' */
+	if (RNA_struct_find_property(op->ptr, "use_mesh_compat")) {
+		if(RNA_boolean_get(op->ptr, "use_mesh_compat"))	fileflags |=  G_FILE_MESH_COMPAT;
+		else											fileflags &= ~G_FILE_MESH_COMPAT;
+	}
+	else {
+		fileflags &= ~G_FILE_MESH_COMPAT;
+	}
 #endif
 
 	if ( WM_write_file(C, path, fileflags, op->reports, copy) != 0)