diff --git a/source/core/maploader.cpp b/source/core/maploader.cpp
index 66bb284b5..ed186cc8a 100644
--- a/source/core/maploader.cpp
+++ b/source/core/maploader.cpp
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ void fixSectors()
 	}
 }
 
-void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnum, unsigned numsectors)
+void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnum, unsigned numsectors, bool noabort)
 {
 
 	if ((unsigned)(*cursectnum) >= numsectors)
@@ -426,10 +426,10 @@ void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnu
 		sectortype* sect = nullptr;
 		updatesectorz(pos.X, pos.Y, pos.Z, &sect);
 		if (!sect) updatesector(pos.X, pos.Y, &sect);
-		if (sect)
+		if (sect || noabort)
 		{
 			Printf(PRINT_HIGH, "Error in map %s: Start sector %d out of range. Max. sector is %d\n", filename, *cursectnum, numsectors);
-			*cursectnum = sectnum(sect);
+			*cursectnum = sect? sectnum(sect) : 0;
 		}
 		else
 		{
diff --git a/source/core/maptypes.h b/source/core/maptypes.h
index 666593aac..abbfe8c69 100644
--- a/source/core/maptypes.h
+++ b/source/core/maptypes.h
@@ -648,4 +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);
+void validateStartSector(const char* filename, const vec3_t& pos, int* cursectnum, unsigned numsectors, bool noabort = false);
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
index 43b21805b..0c89b3fd9 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ void dbLoadMap(const char* pPath, int* pX, int* pY, int* pZ, short* pAngle, int*
 	sectionGeometry.SetSize(sections.Size());
 	wallbackup = wall;
 	sectorbackup = sector;
-	validateStartSector(mapname.GetChars(), { *pX, *pY, *pZ }, cursectnum, mapHeader.numsectors);
+	validateStartSector(mapname.GetChars(), { *pX, *pY, *pZ }, cursectnum, mapHeader.numsectors, gModernMap);
 }