diff --git a/src/object/gradient.cpp b/src/object/gradient.cpp
index f0210442b2f..7b659f59589 100644
--- a/src/object/gradient.cpp
+++ b/src/object/gradient.cpp
@@ -67,26 +67,11 @@ Gradient::Gradient(const ReaderMapping& reader) :
   std::string direction;
   if (reader.get("direction", direction))
   {
-    if (direction == "horizontal")
-    {
-      m_gradient_direction = HORIZONTAL;
-    }
-    else if (direction == "horizontal_sector")
-    {
-      m_gradient_direction = HORIZONTAL_SECTOR;
-    }
-    else if (direction == "vertical_sector")
-    {
-      m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL_SECTOR;
-    }
-    else
-    {
-      m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL;
-    }
+    set_direction(direction);
   }
   else
   {
-    m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL;
+    set_direction(VERTICAL);
   }
 
   if (reader.get("top_color", bkgd_top_color)) {
@@ -209,12 +194,53 @@ Gradient::fade_gradient(const Color& top, const Color& bottom, float time)
   m_fade_time = time;
 }
 
+std::string
+Gradient::get_direction_string() const
+{
+  if (m_gradient_direction == HORIZONTAL)
+    return "horizontal";
+  if (m_gradient_direction == VERTICAL)
+    return "vertical";
+  if (m_gradient_direction == HORIZONTAL_SECTOR)
+    return "horizontal_sector";
+  if (m_gradient_direction == VERTICAL_SECTOR)
+    return "vertical_sector";
+
+  return nullptr;
+}
+
 void
 Gradient::set_direction(const GradientDirection& direction)
 {
   m_gradient_direction = direction;
 }
 
+void
+Gradient::set_direction(const std::string& direction)
+{
+  if (direction == "horizontal")
+  {
+    m_gradient_direction = HORIZONTAL;
+  }
+  else if (direction == "horizontal_sector")
+  {
+    m_gradient_direction = HORIZONTAL_SECTOR;
+  }
+  else if (direction == "vertical_sector")
+  {
+    m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL_SECTOR;
+  }
+  else if (direction == "vertical")
+  {
+    m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL;
+  }
+  else
+  {
+    log_info << "Invalid direction for gradient \"" << direction << "\"";
+    m_gradient_direction = VERTICAL;
+  }
+}
+
 void
 Gradient::draw(DrawingContext& context)
 {
diff --git a/src/object/gradient.hpp b/src/object/gradient.hpp
index 6539a6d5cf0..bb654963dc6 100644
--- a/src/object/gradient.hpp
+++ b/src/object/gradient.hpp
@@ -57,7 +57,9 @@ class Gradient final :
   Color get_gradient_bottom() const { return m_gradient_bottom; }
 
   GradientDirection get_direction() const { return m_gradient_direction; }
+  std::string get_direction_string() const;
   void set_direction(const GradientDirection& direction);
+  void set_direction(const std::string& direction);
 
   void set_layer(int layer) { m_layer = layer; }
   int get_layer() const { return m_layer; }
diff --git a/src/scripting/gradient.cpp b/src/scripting/gradient.cpp
index d73d8775864..0df9839a2f8 100644
--- a/src/scripting/gradient.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/gradient.cpp
@@ -24,36 +24,14 @@ void
 Gradient::set_direction(const std::string& direction)
 {
   SCRIPT_GUARD_VOID;
-
-  if (direction == "horizontal")
-    object.set_direction(GradientDirection::HORIZONTAL);
-  else if (direction == "vertical")
-    object.set_direction(GradientDirection::VERTICAL);
-  else if (direction == "horizontal_sector")
-    object.set_direction(GradientDirection::HORIZONTAL_SECTOR);
-  else if (direction == "vertical_sector")
-    object.set_direction(GradientDirection::VERTICAL_SECTOR);
-  else
-    log_info << "Invalid direction for gradient \"" << direction << "\"";
+  object.set_direction(direction);
 }
 
 std::string
 Gradient::get_direction() const
 {
   SCRIPT_GUARD_DEFAULT;
-
-  auto direction = object.get_direction();
-
-  if (direction == GradientDirection::HORIZONTAL)
-    return "horizontal";
-  if (direction == GradientDirection::VERTICAL)
-    return "vertical";
-  if (direction == GradientDirection::HORIZONTAL_SECTOR)
-    return "horizontal_sector";
-  if (direction == GradientDirection::VERTICAL_SECTOR)
-    return "vertical_sector";
-
-  return nullptr;
+  return object.get_direction_string();
 }
 
 void