diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h b/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
index 4947650ea..d98d4951e 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/bloodactor.h
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ inline void actBurnSprite(DBloodActor* pSource, DBloodActor* pTarget, int nTime)
 {
 	auto pXSprite = &pTarget->x();
 	pXSprite->burnTime = ClipHigh(pXSprite->burnTime + nTime, sprite[pXSprite->reference].statnum == kStatDude ? 2400 : 1200);
-	pXSprite->burnSource = pSource->s().index;
+	pXSprite->burnSource = pSource? pSource->s().index : -1;
 }
 
 inline void GetActorExtents(DBloodActor* actor, int* top, int* bottom)