diff --git a/src/gl/models/gl_models.cpp b/src/gl/models/gl_models.cpp
index 3c2eb05c8..0b7870833 100644
--- a/src/gl/models/gl_models.cpp
+++ b/src/gl/models/gl_models.cpp
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ void gl_InitModels()
 							sc.ScriptError("Too many models in %s", smf.type->TypeName.GetChars());
 						}
 
-						if (surface<0 || index >= MD3_MAX_SURFACES)
+						if (surface<0 || surface >= MD3_MAX_SURFACES)
 						{
 							sc.ScriptError("Invalid MD3 Surface %d in %s", MD3_MAX_SURFACES, smf.type->TypeName.GetChars());
 						}