diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
index 817d58605..d76583755 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ void moveplayers(void) //Players
 							{
 								p->knee_incs = 1;
 								p->weapon_pos = -1;
-								p->actorsqu = ps[otherp].i;
+								p->actorsqu = ps[otherp].GetActor();
 							}
 						}
 					}
@@ -460,9 +460,9 @@ void moveplayers(void) //Players
 						p->jetpack_amount = 1599;
 				}
 
-				if (p->actorsqu >= 0)
+				if (p->actorsqu != nullptr)
 				{
-					p->angle.addadjustment(FixedToFloat(getincangleq16(p->angle.ang.asq16(), gethiq16angle(sprite[p->actorsqu].x - p->posx, sprite[p->actorsqu].y - p->posy)) >> 2));
+					p->angle.addadjustment(FixedToFloat(getincangleq16(p->angle.ang.asq16(), gethiq16angle(p->actorsqu->s.x - p->posx, p->actorsqu->s.y - p->posy)) >> 2));
 				}
 
 				if (s->extra > 0)
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
index 3757b0fd8..2fa7d36a0 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
@@ -4283,12 +4283,12 @@ void move_d(int g_i, int g_p, int g_x)
 			{
 				if (hittype[g_i].bposz != g_sp->z || (ud.multimode < 2 && ud.player_skill < 2))
 				{
-					if ((g_t[0] & 1) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == g_i) return;
+					if ((g_t[0] & 1) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == &hittype[g_i]) return;
 					else daxvel <<= 1;
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					if ((g_t[0] & 3) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == g_i) return;
+					if ((g_t[0] & 3) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == &hittype[g_i]) return;
 					else daxvel <<= 2;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
index a40db64c0..c8b7c3634 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
@@ -4238,12 +4238,12 @@ void move_r(int g_i, int g_p, int g_x)
 			{
 				if (hittype[g_i].bposz != g_sp->z || (ud.multimode < 2 && ud.player_skill < 2))
 				{
-					if ((g_t[0] & 1) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == g_i) return;
+					if ((g_t[0] & 1) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == &hittype[g_i]) return;
 					else daxvel <<= 1;
 				}
 				else
 				{
-					if ((g_t[0] & 3) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == g_i) return;
+					if ((g_t[0] & 3) || ps[g_p].actorsqu == &hittype[g_i]) return;
 					else daxvel <<= 2;
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/dukeactor.h b/source/games/duke/src/dukeactor.h
index a88b75467..68434962a 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/dukeactor.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/dukeactor.h
@@ -160,7 +160,8 @@ inline int ActorToScriptIndex(DDukeActor* a)
 
 inline DDukeActor* ScriptIndexToActor(int index)
 {
-	if (index == -1) return nullptr;
+	// only allow valid actors to get through here. Everything else gets null'ed.
+	if (index < 0 || index >= MAXSPRITES || hittype[index].s.statnum == MAXSTATUS) return nullptr;
 	return &hittype[index];
 }
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
index 6591dbbd2..6add937e6 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/gameexec.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ source as it is released.
 #include "gamestate.h"
 #include "conlabel.h"
 #include "automap.h"
+#include "dukeactor.h"
 
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS
 
@@ -666,8 +667,8 @@ void DoPlayer(bool bSet, int lVar1, int lLabelID, int lVar2, int sActor, int sPl
 		break;
 
 	case PLAYER_ACTORSQU:
-		if (bSet) ps[iPlayer].actorsqu = lValue;
-		else SetGameVarID((int)lVar2, ps[iPlayer].actorsqu, sActor, sPlayer);
+		if (bSet) ps[iPlayer].actorsqu = ScriptIndexToActor(lValue);
+		else SetGameVarID((int)lVar2, ActorToScriptIndex(ps[iPlayer].actorsqu), sActor, sPlayer);
 		break;
 
 	case PLAYER_TIMEBEFOREEXIT:
@@ -2786,7 +2787,7 @@ int ParseState::parse(void)
 			ps[g_p].knee_incs = 1;
 			if(ps[g_p].weapon_pos == 0)
 				ps[g_p].weapon_pos = -1;
-			ps[g_p].actorsqu = g_i;
+			ps[g_p].actorsqu = &hittype[g_i];
 		}
 		break;
 	case concmd_ifawayfromwall:
@@ -3693,8 +3694,8 @@ void LoadActor(int i, int p, int x)
 		// if player was set to squish, first stop that...
 		if (p >= 0)
 		{
-			if (ps[p].actorsqu == i)
-				ps[p].actorsqu = -1;
+			if (ps[p].actorsqu == &hittype[i])
+				ps[p].actorsqu = nullptr;
 		}
 		deletesprite(i);
 	}
@@ -3804,8 +3805,8 @@ void execute(int i,int p,int x)
 	if(s.killit_flag == 1)
 	{
 		// if player was set to squish, first stop that...
-		if(ps[p].actorsqu == i)
-			ps[p].actorsqu = -1;
+		if(ps[p].actorsqu == &hittype[i])
+			ps[p].actorsqu = nullptr;
 		killthesprite = true;
 	}
 	else
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/player.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/player.cpp
index 6d019cd7f..dcccf3587 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/player.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/player.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ source as it is released.
 #include "ns.h"
 #include "global.h"
 #include "mapinfo.h"
+#include "dukeactor.h"
 
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS 
 
@@ -417,30 +418,30 @@ void dokneeattack(int snum, int pi, const std::initializer_list<int> & respawnli
 			p->holster_weapon = 0;
 			if (p->weapon_pos < 0)
 				p->weapon_pos = -p->weapon_pos;
-			if (p->actorsqu >= 0 && dist(&sprite[pi], &sprite[p->actorsqu]) < 1400)
+			if (p->actorsqu != nullptr && dist(&sprite[pi], &p->actorsqu->s) < 1400)
 			{
-				fi.guts(&sprite[p->actorsqu], TILE_JIBS6, 7, myconnectindex);
-				fi.spawn(p->actorsqu, TILE_BLOODPOOL);
+				fi.guts(&p->actorsqu->s, TILE_JIBS6, 7, myconnectindex);
+				fi.spawn(p->actorsqu->GetIndex(), TILE_BLOODPOOL);
 				S_PlayActorSound(SQUISHED, p->actorsqu);
-				if (isIn(sprite[p->actorsqu].picnum, respawnlist))
+				if (isIn(p->actorsqu->s.picnum, respawnlist))
 				{
-					if (sprite[p->actorsqu].yvel)
-						fi.operaterespawns(sprite[p->actorsqu].yvel);
+					if (p->actorsqu->s.yvel)
+						fi.operaterespawns(p->actorsqu->s.yvel);
 				}
 
-				if (sprite[p->actorsqu].picnum == TILE_APLAYER)
+				if (p->actorsqu->s.picnum == TILE_APLAYER)
 				{
-					quickkill(&ps[sprite[p->actorsqu].yvel]);
-					ps[sprite[p->actorsqu].yvel].frag_ps = snum;
+					quickkill(&ps[p->actorsqu->s.yvel]);
+					ps[p->actorsqu->s.yvel].frag_ps = snum;
 				}
-				else if (badguy(&sprite[p->actorsqu]))
+				else if (badguy(&p->actorsqu->s))
 				{
 					deletesprite(p->actorsqu);
 					p->actors_killed++;
 				}
 				else deletesprite(p->actorsqu);
 			}
-			p->actorsqu = -1;
+			p->actorsqu = nullptr;
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
index 481e0ff91..0b25c2810 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ void resetplayerstats(int snum)
     p->ftq              = 0;
     p->tipincs          = 0;
     p->buttonpalette    = 0;
-    p->actorsqu         =-1;
+    p->actorsqu         =nullptr;
     p->invdisptime      = 0;
     p->refresh_inventory= 0;
     p->last_pissed_time = 0;
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/savegame.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/savegame.cpp
index 40fef5eb5..9f803d758 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/savegame.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/savegame.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,21 @@ Prepared for public release: 03/21/2003 - Charlie Wiederhold, 3D Realms
 extern FixedBitArray<MAXSPRITES> activeSprites;
 
 
+//==========================================================================
+//
+//
+//
+//==========================================================================
+
+template<> FSerializer& Serialize(FSerializer& arc, const char* key, Duke3d::weaponhit*& ht, Duke3d::weaponhit** def)
+{
+	size_t index = ht - Duke3d::hittype;
+	assert(index < MAXSPRITES);
+	Serialize(arc, key, index, nullptr);
+	ht = &Duke3d::hittype[index];
+	return arc;
+}
+
 BEGIN_DUKE_NS
 
 void SerializeActorGlobals(FSerializer& arc);
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/types.h b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
index caad71b10..d7314aa8a 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/types.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/types.h
@@ -207,7 +207,8 @@ struct player_struct
 	short over_shoulder_on, fist_incs;
 	short cheat_phase;
 	short dummyplayersprite, extra_extra8, quick_kick, last_quick_kick;
-	short heat_amount, actorsqu, timebeforeexit, customexitsound;
+	short heat_amount, timebeforeexit, customexitsound;
+	DDukeActor* actorsqu;//, *wackedbyactor, *on_crane, *holoduke_on, *somethingonplayer;
 
 	short weaprecs[256], weapreccnt;
 	unsigned int interface_toggle_flag;