diff --git a/engine/common/common.c b/engine/common/common.c
index c74e7c2ea..cd331c235 100644
--- a/engine/common/common.c
+++ b/engine/common/common.c
@@ -821,6 +821,7 @@ void MSG_BeginReading (void)
 	msg_readcount = 0;
 	msg_badread = false;
 	net_message.currentbit = 0;
+	net_message.packing = SZ_RAWBYTES;
 }
 
 int MSG_GetReadCount(void)