diff --git a/source/core/maploader.cpp b/source/core/maploader.cpp
index 1cef5a0c8..3536d17b2 100644
--- a/source/core/maploader.cpp
+++ b/source/core/maploader.cpp
@@ -414,6 +414,28 @@ void fixSectors()
 	}
 }
 
+void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnum, unsigned numsectors)
+{
+
+	if ((unsigned)(*cursectnum) >= numsectors)
+	{
+		sectortype* sect = nullptr;
+		updatesectorz(pos.X, pos.Y, pos.Z, &sect);
+		if (!sect) updatesector(pos.X, pos.Y, &sect);
+		if (sect)
+		{
+			Printf(PRINT_HIGH, "Error in map %s: Start sector %d out of range. Max. sector is %d\n", filename, *cursectnum, numsectors);
+			*cursectnum = sectnum(sect);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			I_Error("Unable to start map %s: Start sector %d out of range. Max. sector is %d. No valid location at start spot\n", filename, *cursectnum, numsectors);
+		}
+	}
+
+
+}
+
 void loadMap(const char* filename, int flags, vec3_t* pos, int16_t* ang, int* cursectnum, SpawnSpriteDef& sprites)
 {
 	inputState.ClearAllInput();
@@ -507,6 +529,7 @@ void loadMap(const char* filename, int flags, vec3_t* pos, int16_t* ang, int* cu
 
 	wallbackup = wall;
 	sectorbackup = sector;
+	validateStartSector(filename, *pos, cursectnum, numsectors);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/core/maptypes.h b/source/core/maptypes.h
index 971b07618..df16bbe03 100644
--- a/source/core/maptypes.h
+++ b/source/core/maptypes.h
@@ -648,3 +648,4 @@ void loadMap(const char *filename, int flags, vec3_t *pos, int16_t *ang, int *cu
 TArray<walltype> loadMapWalls(const char* filename);
 void loadMapBackup(const char* filename);
 void loadMapHack(const char* filename, const unsigned char*, SpawnSpriteDef& sprites);
+void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnum, unsigned numsectors);
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
index 42a2c6b7e..d220fb222 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
@@ -248,7 +248,9 @@ void StartLevel(MapRecord* level, bool newgame)
 #endif
 	//drawLoadingScreen();
 	BloodSpawnSpriteDef sprites;
-	dbLoadMap(currentLevel->fileName, (int*)&startpos.X, (int*)&startpos.Y, (int*)&startpos.Z, &startang, &startsector, nullptr, sprites);
+	int startsectno;
+	dbLoadMap(currentLevel->fileName, (int*)&startpos.X, (int*)&startpos.Y, (int*)&startpos.Z, &startang, &startsectno, nullptr, sprites);
+	startsector = &sector[startsectno];
 	SECRET_SetMapName(currentLevel->DisplayName(), currentLevel->name);
 	STAT_NewLevel(currentLevel->fileName);
 	wsrand(dbReadMapCRC(currentLevel->LabelName()));
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
index 56885cdf3..844f5fa81 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ unsigned int dbReadMapCRC(const char* pPath)
 //
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, sectortype** ppSector, unsigned int* pCRC, BloodSpawnSpriteDef& sprites)
+void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, int* cursectnum, unsigned int* pCRC, BloodSpawnSpriteDef& sprites)
 {
 	const int nXSectorSize = 60;
 	const int nXSpriteSize = 56;
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, sect
 #if 1 // bad, bad hack, just for making Polymost happy...
 	PolymostAllocFakeSector();
 #endif
-	* ppSector = mapHeader.sect >= 0 ? &sector[mapHeader.sect] : nullptr;
+	*cursectnum = mapHeader.sect;
 
 	if (encrypted)
 	{
@@ -673,6 +673,7 @@ void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, sect
 	sectionGeometry.SetSize(sections.Size());
 	wallbackup = wall;
 	sectorbackup = sector;
+	validateStartSector(mapname.GetChars(), { *pX, *pY, *pZ }, cursectnum, mapHeader.numsectors);
 }
 
 
@@ -687,6 +688,6 @@ END_BLD_NS
 void qloadboard(const char* filename, char flags, vec3_t* dapos, int16_t* daang)
 {
 	Blood::BloodSpawnSpriteDef sprites;
-	sectortype* sp;
+	int sp;
 	Blood::dbLoadMap(filename, &dapos->X, &dapos->Y, &dapos->Z, daang, &sp, nullptr, sprites);
 }
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/db.h b/source/games/blood/src/db.h
index 180610fd6..5d078d760 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/db.h
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/db.h
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ DBloodActor* InsertSprite(sectortype* pSector, int nStat);
 int DeleteSprite(DBloodActor* actor);
 
 unsigned int dbReadMapCRC(const char* pPath);
-void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, sectortype** pSector, unsigned int* pCRC, BloodSpawnSpriteDef& sprites);
+void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, int* pSector, unsigned int* pCRC, BloodSpawnSpriteDef& sprites);
 
 
 END_BLD_NS