diff --git a/source/exhumed/src/lion.cpp b/source/exhumed/src/lion.cpp
index ccdc5f1b9..00e86f2bf 100644
--- a/source/exhumed/src/lion.cpp
+++ b/source/exhumed/src/lion.cpp
@@ -187,11 +187,11 @@ void FuncLion(int a, int nDamage, int nRun)
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    if ((a & 0xFFFF) >= 0)
-                    {
-                        short nTarget = a & 0xFFFF;
+                    short nTarget = a & 0xFFFF;
 
-                        if (sprite[nTarget].statnum < 199) {
+                    if (nTarget > -1)
+                    {
+                        if (nTarget > -1 && sprite[nTarget].statnum < 199) {
                             LionList[nLion].nTarget = nTarget;
                         }
 
diff --git a/source/exhumed/src/spider.cpp b/source/exhumed/src/spider.cpp
index d1b027b03..12c1c9dcc 100644
--- a/source/exhumed/src/spider.cpp
+++ b/source/exhumed/src/spider.cpp
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ case_3:
             SpiderList[nSpider].nHealth -= nDamage;
             if (SpiderList[nSpider].nHealth > 0)
             {
-                if (sprite[nTarget].statnum == 100)
+                if (nTarget > -1 && sprite[nTarget].statnum == 100)
                 {
                     SpiderList[nSpider].nTarget = nTarget;
                 }