diff --git a/docs/rh-log.txt b/docs/rh-log.txt
index e53b305821..d76ebbb34f 100644
--- a/docs/rh-log.txt
+++ b/docs/rh-log.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 July 16, 2009
+- Turned net decompression into a non fatal error. It now drops the packet
+  and waits for the sender to send a new, hopefully good, packet.
 - Reduced potential for overflow in R_ProjectSprite().
 - Moved the IF_ADDITIVETIME check earlier in APowerup::HandlePickup so
   that additive time powerups can be activated before the existing
diff --git a/src/i_net.cpp b/src/i_net.cpp
index f8f77fe26a..739da291e5 100644
--- a/src/i_net.cpp
+++ b/src/i_net.cpp
@@ -292,7 +292,10 @@ void PacketGet (void)
 //			Printf("recv %d/%lu\n", c, msgsize + 1);
 			if (err != Z_OK)
 			{
-				I_Error("Net decompression failed (zlib error %d)\n", err);
+				Printf("Net decompression failed (zlib error %d)\n", err);
+				// Pretend no packet
+				doomcom.remotenode = -1;
+				return;
 			}
 			c = msgsize + 1;
 		}