diff --git a/src/namedef.h b/src/namedef.h
index efef8af6d2..af8028a952 100644
--- a/src/namedef.h
+++ b/src/namedef.h
@@ -1070,3 +1070,4 @@ xx(SpotOuterAngle)
 xx(lightflags)
 xx(lighttype)
 xx(InternalDynamicLight)
+xx(_a_chase_default)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/p_enemy.cpp b/src/p_enemy.cpp
index 823d803d58..54a383073c 100644
--- a/src/p_enemy.cpp
+++ b/src/p_enemy.cpp
@@ -2769,12 +2769,16 @@ void A_Chase(AActor *self)
 DEFINE_ACTION_FUNCTION(AActor, A_Chase)
 {
 	PARAM_SELF_PROLOGUE(AActor);
-	PARAM_STATE(melee);
-	PARAM_STATE(missile);
+	PARAM_STATELABEL(meleelabel);
+	PARAM_STATELABEL(missilelabel);
 	PARAM_INT(flags);
 
-	if (melee != nullptr || missile != nullptr || flags != 0x40000000)
+	FName meleename = ENamedName(meleelabel - 0x10000000);
+	FName missilename = ENamedName(missilelabel - 0x10000000);
+	if (meleename != NAME__a_chase_default || missilename != NAME__a_chase_default)
 	{
+		FState *melee = StateLabels.GetState(meleelabel, self->GetClass());
+		FState *missile = StateLabels.GetState(missilelabel, self->GetClass());
 		if ((flags & CHF_RESURRECT) && P_CheckForResurrection(self, false))
 			return 0;
 
diff --git a/src/scripting/vm/vm.h b/src/scripting/vm/vm.h
index 6a80ed4345..f65440f6f0 100644
--- a/src/scripting/vm/vm.h
+++ b/src/scripting/vm/vm.h
@@ -509,6 +509,7 @@ bool AssertObject(void * ob);
 #define PARAM_ANGLE_AT(p,x)			assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_FLOAT); DAngle x = param[p].f;
 #define PARAM_STRING_VAL_AT(p,x)	assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_STRING); FString x = param[p].s();
 #define PARAM_STRING_AT(p,x)		assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_STRING); const FString &x = param[p].s();
+#define PARAM_STATELABEL_AT(p,x)	assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_INT); int x = param[p].i;
 #define PARAM_STATE_AT(p,x)			assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_INT); FState *x = (FState *)StateLabels.GetState(param[p].i, self->GetClass());
 #define PARAM_STATE_ACTION_AT(p,x)	assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_INT); FState *x = (FState *)StateLabels.GetState(param[p].i, stateowner->GetClass());
 #define PARAM_POINTER_AT(p,x,type)	assert((p) < numparam); assert(reginfo[p] == REGT_POINTER); type *x = (type *)param[p].a;
@@ -534,6 +535,7 @@ bool AssertObject(void * ob);
 #define PARAM_ANGLE(x)				++paramnum; PARAM_ANGLE_AT(paramnum,x)
 #define PARAM_STRING(x)				++paramnum; PARAM_STRING_AT(paramnum,x)
 #define PARAM_STRING_VAL(x)				++paramnum; PARAM_STRING_VAL_AT(paramnum,x)
+#define PARAM_STATELABEL(x)				++paramnum; PARAM_STATELABEL_AT(paramnum,x)
 #define PARAM_STATE(x)				++paramnum; PARAM_STATE_AT(paramnum,x)
 #define PARAM_STATE_ACTION(x)		++paramnum; PARAM_STATE_ACTION_AT(paramnum,x)
 #define PARAM_POINTER(x,type)		++paramnum; PARAM_POINTER_AT(paramnum,x,type)
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actor.txt b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actor.txt
index e9058c67a0..b113d12776 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/actor.txt
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/actor.txt
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@ class Actor : Thinker native
 	native void A_NoBlocking(bool drop = true);
 	void A_Fall() { A_NoBlocking(); }
 	native void A_Look();
-	native void A_Chase(statelabel melee = null, statelabel missile = null, int flags = 0x40000000);
+	native void A_Chase(statelabel melee = '_a_chase_default', statelabel missile = '_a_chase_default', int flags = 0);
 	native void A_VileChase();
 	native bool A_CheckForResurrection();
 	native void A_BossDeath();