diff --git a/source/core/coreactor.h b/source/core/coreactor.h
index 0bdd05e01..5fc4fe76c 100644
--- a/source/core/coreactor.h
+++ b/source/core/coreactor.h
@@ -286,29 +286,6 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
-// For iterating linearly over map spawned sprites. Will later only be valid on map load
-template<class TActor>
-class TLinearSpriteIterator
-{
-	int index = 0;
-public:
-
-	void Reset()
-	{
-		index = 0;
-	}
-
-	TActor* Next()
-	{
-		while (index < MAXSPRITES)
-		{
-			auto p = actorArray[index++];
-			if (p->s().statnum != MAXSTATUS) return static_cast<TActor*>(p);
-		}
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-};
-
 using CoreSectIterator = TSectIterator<DCoreActor>;
 
 
diff --git a/source/core/maploader.cpp b/source/core/maploader.cpp
index 9f347cbfe..fbc0d5aaf 100644
--- a/source/core/maploader.cpp
+++ b/source/core/maploader.cpp
@@ -431,7 +431,6 @@ void allocateMapArrays(int numsprites)
 	memset(sector.Data(), 0, sizeof(sectortype) * numsectors);
 	wall.Resize(numwalls);
 	memset(wall.Data(), 0, sizeof(walltype) * numwalls);
-	memset(sprite, 0, sizeof(*sprite) * MAXSPRITES);
 	memset(spriteext, 0, sizeof(spriteext_t) * MAXSPRITES);
 	memset(spritesmooth, 0, sizeof(spritesmooth_t) * (MAXSPRITES + MAXUNIQHUDID));
 
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h b/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
index 6f73bee55..9dd7c011f 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/engine.h
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ extern int Counters[kNumCounters];
 
 void SnapSectors(sectortype* pSectorA, sectortype* pSectorB, int b);
 
-void LoadObjects();
+void LoadObjects(TArray<DExhumedActor*>& actors);
 
 // light
 
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumedactor.h b/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumedactor.h
index 24016904c..66d364fce 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumedactor.h
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumedactor.h
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ using Collision = TCollision<DExhumedActor>;
 using ExhumedStatIterator = TStatIterator<DExhumedActor>;
 using ExhumedSectIterator = TSectIterator<DExhumedActor>;
 using ExhumedSpriteIterator = TSpriteIterator<DExhumedActor>;
-using ExhumedLinearSpriteIterator = TLinearSpriteIterator<DExhumedActor>;
 
 
 inline FSerializer& Serialize(FSerializer& arc, const char* keyname, DExhumedActor*& w, DExhumedActor** def)
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
index ffe9ec0b1..c3cc58ef2 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/init.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,23 @@ int Counters[kNumCounters];
 uint8_t bIsVersion6 = true;
 
 
+//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+//
+// this is just a dummy for now to provide the intended setup.
+//
+//---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+static TArray<DExhumedActor*> spawnactors(SpawnSpriteDef& spawns)
+{
+    insertAllSprites(spawns);
+    TArray<DExhumedActor*> actorlist;
+    for (unsigned i = 0; i < spawns.sprites.Size(); i++)
+    {
+        if (exhumedActors[i].exists()) actorlist.Push(&exhumedActors[i]);
+    }
+    return actorlist;
+}
+
 
 
 uint8_t LoadLevel(MapRecord* map)
@@ -124,7 +141,7 @@ uint8_t LoadLevel(MapRecord* map)
     inity = startPos.y;
     initz = startPos.z;
     initsectp = &sector[initsect];
-	insertAllSprites(spawned);
+    auto actors = spawnactors(spawned);
 
     int i;
 
@@ -149,7 +166,7 @@ uint8_t LoadLevel(MapRecord* map)
     flash = 0;
     precache();
 
-    LoadObjects();
+    LoadObjects(actors);
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -707,13 +724,12 @@ void ProcessSpriteTag(DExhumedActor* pActor, int nLotag, int nHitag)
     DeleteActor(pActor);
 }
 
-void ExamineSprites()
+void ExamineSprites(TArray<DExhumedActor*>& actors)
 {
     nNetStartSprites = 0;
     nCurStartSprite = 0;
 
-	ExhumedLinearSpriteIterator it;
-    while (auto ac = it.Next())
+    for(auto& ac : actors)
     {
 		auto pSprite = &ac->s();
 
@@ -751,7 +767,7 @@ void ExamineSprites()
     }
 }
 
-void LoadObjects()
+void LoadObjects(TArray<DExhumedActor*>& actors)
 {
     runlist_InitRun();
     runlist_InitChan();
@@ -796,7 +812,7 @@ void LoadObjects()
         }
     }
 
-    ExamineSprites();
+    ExamineSprites(actors);
     PostProcess();
     InitRa();
     InitChunks();