diff --git a/src/r_data/models.cpp b/src/r_data/models.cpp
index 3cca0791ca..09010c1954 100644
--- a/src/r_data/models.cpp
+++ b/src/r_data/models.cpp
@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ FSpriteModelFrame * FindModelFrame(const AActor * thing, int sprite, int frame,
 
 	if(thing->flags9 & MF9_DECOUPLEDANIMATIONS)
 	{
-		return &BaseSpriteModelFrames[(thing->modelData != nullptr && thing->modelData->modelDef != nullptr) ? thing->modelData->modelDef : thing->GetClass()];
+		return BaseSpriteModelFrames.CheckKey((thing->modelData != nullptr && thing->modelData->modelDef != nullptr) ? thing->modelData->modelDef : thing->GetClass());
 	}
 	else
 	{