diff --git a/Freeserf.Core/Building.cs b/Freeserf.Core/Building.cs
index a8e2d50..1caa9aa 100644
--- a/Freeserf.Core/Building.cs
+++ b/Freeserf.Core/Building.cs
@@ -1923,7 +1923,7 @@ void UpdateCastle()
                     lastKnight.SerfType = bestKnightType;
                 }
             }
-            else if (player.CastleKnights < player.CastleKnightsWanted)
+            else if (player.CastleKnights + player.CastleKnightsRequested < player.CastleKnightsWanted)
             {
                 var knightType = Serf.Type.None;
 
@@ -1954,8 +1954,10 @@ void UpdateCastle()
                     else
                     {
                         // if we don't have a knight, send one
-                        if (player.TickSendKnightDelay())
+                        if (player.TickSendKnightDelay()) { 
+                            player.IncreaseCastleKnightsRequested();
                             SendKnightToBuilding();
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 else
@@ -1967,7 +1969,7 @@ void UpdateCastle()
                     player.IncreaseCastleKnights();
                 }
             }
-            else
+            else if (player.CastleKnights > player.CastleKnightsWanted)
             {
                 player.DecreaseCastleKnights();
 
diff --git a/Freeserf.Core/Player.cs b/Freeserf.Core/Player.cs
index 8a79acc..f96248c 100644
--- a/Freeserf.Core/Player.cs
+++ b/Freeserf.Core/Player.cs
@@ -514,9 +514,15 @@ public void SetKnightOccupation(byte[] values)
                 settings.KnightOccupation[0] = values[i];
         }
 
+        public void IncreaseCastleKnightsRequested()
+        {
+            ++state.CastleKnightsRequested;
+        }
+
         public void IncreaseCastleKnights()
         {
             ++state.CastleKnights;
+            if ( CastleKnightsRequested > 0 ) --state.CastleKnightsRequested;
         }
 
         public void DecreaseCastleKnights()
@@ -1289,6 +1295,8 @@ public byte GetInventoryPriority(Resource.Type type)
 
         public uint TotalMilitaryScore => state.TotalMilitaryScore;
 
+        public byte CastleKnightsRequested => state.CastleKnightsRequested;
+
         // Update player game state as part of the game progression.
         public void Update()
         {
@@ -1764,6 +1772,7 @@ public uint WheatMill
             get => settings.WheatMill;
             set => settings.WheatMill = (word)value;
         }
+
         public uint GetWheatMill() { return WheatMill; }
 
         static readonly int[] minLevelHut = new int[] { 1, 1, 2, 2, 3 };
@@ -2040,6 +2049,11 @@ public void ReadFrom(SaveReaderText reader)
             state.CastleScore = (sbyte)reader.Value("castle_score").ReadInt();
             state.CastleKnights = (byte)reader.Value("castle_knights").ReadUInt();
             settings.CastleKnightsWanted = (byte)reader.Value("castle_knights_wanted").ReadUInt();
+            try { 
+                state.CastleKnightsRequested = (byte)reader.Value("castle_knights_requested").ReadUInt();
+            } catch { 
+                state.CastleKnightsRequested = 0; //dont break old save games, assume 0
+            }
         }
 
         /// <summary>
@@ -2146,6 +2160,7 @@ public void WriteTo(SaveWriterText writer)
 
             writer.Value("castle_knights").Write(state.CastleKnights);
             writer.Value("castle_knights_wanted").Write(settings.CastleKnightsWanted);
+            writer.Value("castle_knights_requested").Write(state.CastleKnightsRequested);
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Freeserf.Core/PlayerState.cs b/Freeserf.Core/PlayerState.cs
index 1f89d06..b7ef6e7 100644
--- a/Freeserf.Core/PlayerState.cs
+++ b/Freeserf.Core/PlayerState.cs
@@ -431,6 +431,8 @@ public dword MilitaryMaxGold
                 }
             }
         }
+        [Data]
+        public byte CastleKnightsRequested { get; set; }
 
         public bool HasCastle
         {