diff --git a/packages/host/src/Instance.ts b/packages/host/src/Instance.ts
index 755c7364..6e18661f 100644
--- a/packages/host/src/Instance.ts
+++ b/packages/host/src/Instance.ts
@@ -796,6 +796,7 @@ end`.replace(/\r?\n/g, " ");
 		} else {
 			modPack = await this.sendTo("controller", new lib.ModPackGetRequest(modPackId));
 		}
+		this.checkModPackVersion(modPack);
 		this.activeModPack = modPack;
 
 		const mods = await this._host.fetchMods(modPack.mods.values(), modPack.factorioVersion);
@@ -847,6 +848,25 @@ end`.replace(/\r?\n/g, " ");
 		await fs.writeFile(this.path("mods", "mod-settings.dat"), this.activeModPack.toModSettingsDat());
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Check that the mod pack does not target a newer Factorio than the server
+	 *
+	 * The mod pack's Factorio version is written into mod-settings.dat and
+	 * Factorio refuses to read it if it is newer than the game.  It then
+	 * loads default settings instead, which can corrupt the save.
+	 *
+	 * @throws {lib.RequestError} if the mod pack version is higher than the server version.
+	 */
+	checkModPackVersion(modPack: lib.ModPack) {
+		const serverVersion = this.server.version;
+		if (serverVersion && modPack.integerFactorioVersion > lib.integerFullVersion(serverVersion)) {
+			throw new lib.RequestError(
+				`Mod pack ${modPack.name} is for Factorio ${modPack.factorioVersion} ` +
+				`which is newer than the Factorio ${serverVersion} this instance runs`
+			);
+		}
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Prepare instance for starting
 	 *
diff --git a/test/host/Instance.js b/test/host/Instance.js
index 52623700..73e11c1a 100644
--- a/test/host/Instance.js
+++ b/test/host/Instance.js
@@ -38,6 +38,34 @@ describe("class Instance", function() {
 		});
 	});
 
+	describe(".checkModPackVersion()", function() {
+		function modPack(factorioVersion) {
+			return lib.ModPack.fromJSON({ name: "pack", factorio_version: factorioVersion });
+		}
+
+		it("should accept a mod pack for an older or equal Factorio version", function() {
+			instance.server.version = "1.1.91";
+			instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("1.1"));
+			instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("1.1.90"));
+			instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("1.1.91"));
+		});
+
+		it("should reject a mod pack for a newer Factorio version", function() {
+			instance.server.version = "1.1.91";
+			assert.throws(
+				() => instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("1.1.110")),
+				new lib.RequestError(
+					"Mod pack pack is for Factorio 1.1.110 which is newer than the Factorio 1.1.91 this instance runs"
+				)
+			);
+			assert.throws(() => instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("2.0")), lib.RequestError);
+		});
+
+		it("should skip the check when the server version is unknown", function() {
+			instance.checkModPackVersion(modPack("2.0"));
+		});
+	});
+
 	describe("._recordPlayerJoin()", function() {
 		it("should add player to playersOnline", function() {
 			instance._recordPlayerJoin("player");