diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/gamedef.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/gamedef.cpp
index d90b83794..04f64d093 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/gamedef.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/gamedef.cpp
@@ -2025,6 +2025,7 @@ static int32_t C_GetNextValue(int32_t type)
         *g_scriptPtr = 0;
         g_scriptPtr++;
         textptr+=l;
+        if (!l) textptr++;
         return -1; // error!
     }