diff --git a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
index 16025c0d0f..06cdfbd06a 100644
--- a/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/codegeneration/codegen.cpp
@@ -3371,6 +3371,17 @@ FxExpression *FxCompareEq::Resolve(FCompileContext& ctx)
 		{
 			Promote(ctx);
 		}
+		// allows comparing state labels with null pointers.
+		else if (left->ValueType == TypeStateLabel && right->ValueType == TypeNullPtr)
+		{
+			right = new FxTypeCast(right, TypeStateLabel, false);
+			SAFE_RESOLVE(right, ctx);
+		}
+		else if (right->ValueType == TypeStateLabel && left->ValueType == TypeNullPtr)
+		{
+			left = new FxTypeCast(left, TypeStateLabel, false);
+			SAFE_RESOLVE(left, ctx);
+		}
 		else if (left->ValueType->GetRegType() == REGT_POINTER && right->ValueType->GetRegType() == REGT_POINTER)
 		{
 			if (left->ValueType != right->ValueType && right->ValueType != TypeNullPtr && left->ValueType != TypeNullPtr &&
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/doom/scriptedmarine.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/doom/scriptedmarine.txt
index 9ecfbc4605..7428b7be35 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/doom/scriptedmarine.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/doom/scriptedmarine.txt
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ class ScriptedMarine : Actor
 	//
 	//============================================================================
 
-	void A_M_Refire (bool ignoremissile, statelabel jumpto)
+	void A_M_Refire (bool ignoremissile, statelabel jumpto = null)
 	{
 		if (target == null || target.health <= 0)
 		{
@@ -293,13 +293,15 @@ class ScriptedMarine : Actor
 					return;
 				}
 			}
-			SetStateLabel (jumpto);
+			if (jumpto != null) SetStateLabel (jumpto);
+			else SetState(CurState + 1);
 			return;
 		}
 		if (((ignoremissile || MissileState == null) && !CheckMeleeRange ()) ||
 			!CheckSight (target) ||	random[SMarineRefire]() < 4)	// Small chance of stopping even when target not dead
 		{
-			SetStateLabel (jumpto);
+			if (jumpto != null) SetStateLabel (jumpto);
+			else SetState(CurState + 1);
 		}
 	}