diff --git a/source/blood/src/bloodactor.h b/source/blood/src/bloodactor.h
index 8b9e969e1..d4bc9f843 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/bloodactor.h
+++ b/source/blood/src/bloodactor.h
@@ -25,7 +25,11 @@ public:
     DBloodActor() :index(int(this - base())) { /*assert(index >= 0 && index < kMaxSprites);*/ }
     DBloodActor& operator=(const DBloodActor& other) = default;
 	
-	bool hasX() { return sprite[index].extra > 0; }
+    void Clear()
+    {
+        dudeSlope = 0;
+    }
+    bool hasX() { return sprite[index].extra > 0; }
 	spritetype& s() { return sprite[index]; }
 	XSPRITE& x() { return xsprite[sprite[index].extra]; }	// calling this does not validate the xsprite!
     SPRITEHIT& hit() { return gSpriteHit[sprite[index].extra]; }
diff --git a/source/blood/src/loadsave.cpp b/source/blood/src/loadsave.cpp
index 6b82566fc..48cfbc765 100644
--- a/source/blood/src/loadsave.cpp
+++ b/source/blood/src/loadsave.cpp
@@ -443,12 +443,11 @@ FSerializer& Serialize(FSerializer& arc, const char* keyname, DBloodActor& w, DB
 	if (!def)
 	{
 		def = &nul;
-		if (arc.isReading()) w = {};
+		if (arc.isReading()) w.Clear();
 	}
 
 	if (arc.BeginObject(keyname))
 	{
-
 		// The rest is only relevant if the actor has an xsprite.
 		if (w.s().extra > 0)
 		{