diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h b/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
index f2b5e00ad..de30286f7 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ extern int initx;
 extern int inity;
 extern int initz;
 extern int16_t inita;
-extern int initsect;
+extern sectortype* initsectp;
 
 extern int nCurChunkNum;
 extern DExhumedActor* nBodyGunSprite[50];
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/gun.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/gun.cpp
index a27171c82..fdf971111 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/gun.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/gun.cpp
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ void DrawWeapons(double smooth)
 
     int var_28 = var_30 + WeaponInfo[nWeapon].b[var_34];
 
-    int8_t nShade = sector[initsect].ceilingshade;
+    int8_t nShade = initsectp->ceilingshade;
 
     int nDouble = PlayerList[nLocalPlayer].nDouble;
     int nPal = kPalNormal;
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
index f18aaedd3..cd7609c70 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ enum
 
 int initx, inity, initz;
 int16_t inita;
-int initsect;
+sectortype* initsectp;
 
 int nCurChunkNum = 0;
 
@@ -117,10 +117,12 @@ uint8_t LoadLevel(MapRecord* map)
     }
 
     vec3_t startPos;
+    int initsect;
     engineLoadBoard(currentLevel->fileName, 0, &startPos, &inita, &initsect);
     initx = startPos.x;
     inity = startPos.y;
     initz = startPos.z;
+    initsectp = &sector[initsect];
 
     int i;
 
@@ -159,7 +161,7 @@ void InitLevel(MapRecord* map)
 
     for (int i = 0; i < nTotalPlayers; i++)
     {
-        SetSavePoint(i, initx, inity, initz, &sector[initsect], inita);
+        SetSavePoint(i, initx, inity, initz, initsectp, inita);
         RestartPlayer(i);
         InitPlayerKeys(i);
     }
@@ -735,7 +737,7 @@ void ExamineSprites()
 
     if (nNetPlayerCount)
     {
-        auto pActor = insertActor(initsect, 0);
+        auto pActor = insertActor(initsectp, 0);
 		auto pSprite = &pActor->s();
 
         pSprite->x = initx;
@@ -816,7 +818,7 @@ void SerializeInit(FSerializer& arc)
             ("inity", inity)
             ("initz", initz)
             ("inita", inita)
-            ("initsect", initsect)
+            ("initsect", initsectp)
             ("curchunk", nCurChunkNum)
             .Array("bodygunsprite", nBodyGunSprite, countof(nBodyGunSprite))
             ("curbodygun", nCurBodyGunNum)
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/map.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/map.cpp
index 7dd2f9b5b..7aa3ddc97 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/map.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/map.cpp
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ void GrabMap()
 
 void UpdateMap()
 {
-    if (sector[initsect].ceilingpal != 3 || (PlayerList[nLocalPlayer].nTorch != 0)) {
-        MarkSectorSeen(initsect);
+    if (initsectp->ceilingpal != 3 || (PlayerList[nLocalPlayer].nTorch != 0)) {
+        MarkSectorSeen(sectnum(initsectp));
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
index 744878b3e..321d0450b 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
@@ -1090,7 +1090,7 @@ void MoveSector(sectortype* pSector, int nAngle, int *nXVel, int *nYVel)
     inity = pSprite->y;
     initz = pSprite->z;
     inita = pSprite->ang;
-    initsect = pSprite->sectnum;
+    initsectp = pSprite->sector();
 }
 
 void SetQuake(DExhumedActor* pActor, int nVal)
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/osdcmds.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/osdcmds.cpp
index 7e422755a..4563ed5ef 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/osdcmds.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/osdcmds.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ static int osdcmd_spawn(CCmdFuncPtr parm)
 {
     if (parm->numparms != 1) return CCMD_SHOWHELP;
     auto c = parm->parms[0];
-	auto sectp = &sector[initsect];
+	auto sectp = initsectp;
     if (!stricmp(c, "anubis")) BuildAnubis(nullptr, initx, inity, sectp->floorz, sectp, inita, false);
     else if (!stricmp(c, "spider")) BuildSpider(nullptr, initx, inity, sectp->floorz, sectp, inita);
     else if (!stricmp(c, "mummy")) BuildMummy(nullptr, initx, inity, sectp->floorz, sectp, inita);
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/player.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/player.cpp
index 077e96777..c93ec8707 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/player.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/player.cpp
@@ -2553,7 +2553,7 @@ sectdone:
         initx = pPlayerSprite->x;
         inity = pPlayerSprite->y;
         initz = pPlayerSprite->z;
-        initsect = pPlayerSprite->sectnum;
+        initsectp = pPlayerSprite->sector();
         inita = pPlayerSprite->ang;
     }