diff --git a/src/town_cmd.cpp b/src/town_cmd.cpp
index f99b1a0813..d360f1044a 100644
--- a/src/town_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/town_cmd.cpp
@@ -1774,7 +1774,7 @@ static const byte _num_initial_towns[4] = {5, 11, 23, 46};  // very low, low, no
 bool GenerateTowns(TownLayout layout)
 {
 	uint current_number = 0;
-	uint difficulty = _settings_game.difficulty.number_towns;
+	uint difficulty = (_game_mode != GM_EDITOR) ? _settings_game.difficulty.number_towns : 0;
 	uint total = (difficulty == (uint)CUSTOM_TOWN_NUMBER_DIFFICULTY) ? _settings_game.game_creation.custom_town_number : ScaleByMapSize(_num_initial_towns[difficulty] + (Random() & 7));
 	uint32 townnameparts;