diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h b/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
index 51b2b8fd0..c6e5fbfca 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public:
 	int& xvel() { return Blood::xvel[index]; }
 	int& yvel() { return Blood::yvel[index]; }
 	int& zvel() { return Blood::zvel[index]; }
-	int GetIndex() { return s().index; }	// this is for error printing only!
+	int GetIndex() { return s().time; }	// For error printing only! This is only identical with the sprite index for items spawned at map start.
 
 	GENDUDEEXTRA& genDudeExtra() { return Blood::gGenDudeExtra[index]; }
 	POINT3D& basePoint() { return Blood::baseSprite[index]; }
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
index 00cc34e58..f8731f72c 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
@@ -848,6 +848,7 @@ void dbLoadMap(const char *pPath, int *pX, int *pY, int *pZ, short *pAngle, shor
         }
     }
     initspritelists();
+    leveltimer = mapHeader.numsprites;
     for (int i = 0; i < mapHeader.numsprites; i++)
     {
         RemoveSpriteStat(i);
@@ -883,6 +884,7 @@ void dbLoadMap(const char *pPath, int *pX, int *pY, int *pZ, short *pAngle, shor
         pSprite->detail = load.detail;
         pSprite->shade = load.shade;
         pSprite->blend = 0;
+        pSprite->time = i;
 
         InsertSpriteSect(i, sprite[i].sectnum);
         InsertSpriteStat(i, sprite[i].statnum);
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/eventq.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/eventq.cpp
index 50275b099..acf517d25 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/eventq.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/eventq.cpp
@@ -394,6 +394,7 @@ void evSend(DBloodActor* actor, int nIndex, int nType, int rxId, COMMAND_ID comm
 		else viewSetSystemMessage("Invalid Total-Secrets command by xobject #%d (object type %d)", nIndex, nType);
 		break;
 	case kChannelSecretFound:
+		if (actor != nullptr) nIndex = actor->GetIndex();	// the hint system needs the sprite index.
 		if (SECRET_Trigger(nIndex + 65536 * nType)) // if the hint system knows this secret it's a retrigger - skip that.
 		{
 			if (command >= kCmdNumberic)