diff --git a/plugins/markov.py b/plugins/markov.py
index 6aa2bce..3a71d4c 100644
--- a/plugins/markov.py
+++ b/plugins/markov.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class Chain:
         )
         self.__dirty = False
 
-    def save(self, retain: bool = True):
+    def save(self):
         if not self.__cache:
             return
         if self.__dirty:
@@ -127,10 +127,6 @@ class Chain:
                 json.dump(obj, fp)
             self.__dirty = False
 
-        if not retain:
-            log.debug("Pruning markov chain %s from memory", self.path)
-            self.clear_cache()
-
     def clear_cache(self):
         self.__cache.clear()
         self.__dirty = False
@@ -266,11 +262,14 @@ class Markov(Plugin):
             log.info("Saving markov chains")
             for chains in self.__chains.values():
                 for chain in chains.values():
+                    chain.save()
+                    # Prune
+                    retain = True
                     if retain_after is not None:
                         retain = chain.last_access > retain_after
-                    else:
-                        retain = True
-                    chain.save(retain=retain)
+                    if not retain:
+                        log.debug("Pruning markov chain %s from memory", chain.path)
+                        chain.clear_cache()
             log.info("Done")
 
     async def on_unload(self, conn: IrcProtocol):