diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
index 1283912a2..00e2125f6 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
@@ -8883,11 +8883,22 @@ static void G_CheckCommandLine(int32_t argc, const char **argv)
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        ud.multimode = Batoi(c)%17;
-                        initprintf("Fake multiplayer mode: %d players.\n", ud.multimode);
+                        int32_t numpl = Batoi(c);
 
-                        g_fakeMultiMode = 1;
+                        if (numpl < 2 || numpl > MAXPLAYERS)
+                        {
+                            initprintf("Fake multiplayer mode: expected 2-%d players, falling back to 1.\n",
+                                       MAXPLAYERS);
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            ud.multimode = numpl;
+                            initprintf("Fake multiplayer mode: %d players.\n", ud.multimode);
+
+                            g_fakeMultiMode = 1;
+                        }
                     }
+
                     ud.m_coop = ud.coop = 0;
                     ud.m_marker = ud.marker = 1;
                     ud.m_respawn_monsters = ud.respawn_monsters = 1;
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
index 79be2d9b1..0ee79f377 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.c
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ char g_numVolumes = 3;
 
 int32_t g_timerTicsPerSecond=TICRATE;
 
-char g_numPlayerSprites,g_loadFromGroupOnly=0,g_earthquakeTime;
+int8_t g_numPlayerSprites;
+char g_loadFromGroupOnly=0, g_earthquakeTime;
 
 int32_t playerswhenstarted;
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.h
index 0468fed2c..a2e5a87aa 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/global.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/global.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ G_EXTERN char SkillNames[MAXSKILLS][33];
 G_EXTERN char g_RTSPlaying;
 G_EXTERN int32_t g_musicIndex;
 G_EXTERN char g_numGametypes;
-G_EXTERN char g_numPlayerSprites,g_loadFromGroupOnly;
+G_EXTERN char g_loadFromGroupOnly;
 G_EXTERN char g_numVolumes;
 G_EXTERN char g_numSkills;
 G_EXTERN char myjumpingtoggle,myonground,myhardlanding,myreturntocenter;
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/net.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/net.h
index c8cd0d878..662556720 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/net.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/net.h
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int16_t prevspritestat[MAXSPRITES];
 
     uint8_t g_earthquakeTime;
-    uint8_t g_numPlayerSprites;
+    int8_t g_numPlayerSprites;
     uint8_t scriptptrs[MAXSPRITES];
 
     netactor_t actor[MAXSPRITES];
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
index 2d1099ce3..b0161cbe1 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/player.h
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ typedef struct {
 } playerdata_t;
 #pragma pack(pop)
 
-extern char             g_numPlayerSprites;
+extern int8_t             g_numPlayerSprites;
 extern int32_t          fricxv,fricyv;
 
 extern intptr_t         *aplWeaponClip[MAX_WEAPONS];            // number of items in clip
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
index 614c27a1d..2d37a9aa6 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/premap.c
@@ -1567,9 +1567,8 @@ void G_NewGame(int32_t vn,int32_t ln,int32_t sk)
 
 static void resetpspritevars(char g)
 {
-    int16_t i, j, nexti; //circ;
-//    int32_t firstx,firsty;
-    spritetype *s;
+    int16_t i, j; //circ;
+
     uint8_t aimmode[MAXPLAYERS],autoaim[MAXPLAYERS],weaponswitch[MAXPLAYERS];
     DukeStatus_t tsbar[MAXPLAYERS];
 
@@ -1628,17 +1627,17 @@ static void resetpspritevars(char g)
     i = headspritestat[STAT_PLAYER];
     while (i >= 0)
     {
-        nexti = nextspritestat[i];
-        s = &sprite[i];
+        const int32_t nexti = nextspritestat[i];
+        spritetype *const s = &sprite[i];
 
         if (g_numPlayerSprites == MAXPLAYERS)
             G_GameExit("\nToo many player sprites (max 16.)");
 
-        g_playerSpawnPoints[(uint8_t)g_numPlayerSprites].ox = s->x;
-        g_playerSpawnPoints[(uint8_t)g_numPlayerSprites].oy = s->y;
-        g_playerSpawnPoints[(uint8_t)g_numPlayerSprites].oz = s->z;
-        g_playerSpawnPoints[(uint8_t)g_numPlayerSprites].oa = s->ang;
-        g_playerSpawnPoints[(uint8_t)g_numPlayerSprites].os = s->sectnum;
+        g_playerSpawnPoints[g_numPlayerSprites].ox = s->x;
+        g_playerSpawnPoints[g_numPlayerSprites].oy = s->y;
+        g_playerSpawnPoints[g_numPlayerSprites].oz = s->z;
+        g_playerSpawnPoints[g_numPlayerSprites].oa = s->ang;
+        g_playerSpawnPoints[g_numPlayerSprites].os = s->sectnum;
 
         g_numPlayerSprites++;
 
@@ -1651,7 +1650,7 @@ static void resetpspritevars(char g)
             if (!g_fakeMultiMode)
                 s->cstat = j < numplayers ? 1+256 : 32768;
             else
-                s->cstat = 1+256;
+                s->cstat = j < ud.multimode ? 1+256 : 32768;
             s->xoffset = 0;
             s->clipdist = 64;
 
@@ -1716,6 +1715,7 @@ static void resetpspritevars(char g)
             j++;
         }
         else A_DeleteSprite(i);
+
         i = nexti;
     }
 }
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.h
index 36a0f7fe1..c491f08f5 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/sector.h
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ typedef struct {
     int16_t pskyoff[MAXPSKYTILES], pskybits;
 
     uint8_t g_earthquakeTime;
-    uint8_t g_numPlayerSprites;
+    int8_t g_numPlayerSprites;
 
     uint8_t show2dsector[(MAXSECTORS+7)>>3];