diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
index 6bdd10bc38..e4ed39b3a8 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
@@ -539,9 +539,15 @@ class GlobalData : public SubsystemInterface
 
 };
 
-// singleton
-extern GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;
-
-#define TheGlobalData ((const GlobalData*)TheWritableGlobalData)
+#if defined(_DEBUG) || defined(RTS_DEBUG) || defined(RTS_INTERNAL)
+	static union
+	{
+		GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;				///< The global data singleton
+		const GlobalData* TheGlobalData;				///< Const shorthand for above singleton
+	};
+#else
+	extern GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;			///< The global data singleton
+	#define TheGlobalData ((const GlobalData*)TheWritableGlobalData)	///< Const shorthand for above singleton
+#endif
 
 #endif
diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
index b3c407c02d..dfbacc200c 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,9 @@
 #include "GameNetwork/FirewallHelper.h"
 
 // PUBLIC DATA ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData = NULL;				///< The global data singleton
+#if !defined(_DEBUG) && !defined(RTS_DEBUG) && !defined(RTS_INTERNAL)
+	GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData = NULL;				///< The global data singleton
+#endif
 
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 GlobalData* GlobalData::m_theOriginal = NULL;
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
index 5c7957e88f..2388df7468 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Include/Common/GlobalData.h
@@ -552,9 +552,15 @@ class GlobalData : public SubsystemInterface
 
 };
 
-// singleton
-extern GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;
-
-#define TheGlobalData ((const GlobalData*)TheWritableGlobalData)
+#if defined(_DEBUG) || defined(RTS_DEBUG) || defined(RTS_INTERNAL)
+	static union
+	{
+		GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;				///< The global data singleton
+		const GlobalData* TheGlobalData;				///< Const shorthand for above singleton
+	};
+#else
+	extern GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData;			///< The global data singleton
+	#define TheGlobalData ((const GlobalData*)TheWritableGlobalData)	///< Const shorthand for above singleton
+#endif
 
 #endif
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
index 83e33c3b61..85872e1248 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/GlobalData.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@
 #include "GameNetwork/FirewallHelper.h"
 
 // PUBLIC DATA ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData = NULL;				///< The global data singleton
+#if !defined(_DEBUG) && !defined(RTS_DEBUG) && !defined(RTS_INTERNAL)
+	GlobalData* TheWritableGlobalData = NULL;				///< The global data singleton
+#endif
 
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 GlobalData* GlobalData::m_theOriginal = NULL;