diff --git a/source/core/thingdef_data.cpp b/source/core/thingdef_data.cpp
index bc38e40aa..3fad8fc55 100644
--- a/source/core/thingdef_data.cpp
+++ b/source/core/thingdef_data.cpp
@@ -172,6 +172,7 @@ static FFlagDef DukeActorFlagDefs[] =
 	DEFINE_FLAG(SFLAG3, FORCERUNCON, DDukeActor, flags3),
 	DEFINE_FLAG(SFLAG3, BIGHEALTH, DDukeActor, flags3),
 	DEFINE_FLAG(SFLAG3, NOGRAVITY, DDukeActor, flags3),
+	DEFINE_FLAG(SFLAG3, SIMPLEINIT, DDukeActor, flags3),
 
 };
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/constants.h b/source/games/duke/src/constants.h
index d607c5da7..b3ba11848 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/constants.h
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/constants.h
@@ -406,6 +406,7 @@ enum sflags3_t
 	SFLAG3_FORCERUNCON = 0x00000010,	// by default only STAT_ACTOR runs CON - this enables it for other statnums as well, provided they run Tick()
 	SFLAG3_BIGHEALTH = 0x00000020,
 	SFLAG3_NOGRAVITY = 0x00000040,		// disables makeitfall.
+	SFLAG3_SIMPLEINIT = 0x00000080,		// Internal: skip default init stuff in DukeActor::Initialize.
 
 };
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
index 0d6b5bd0c..d8b0ab484 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,12 @@ DDukeActor* CreateActor(sectortype* whatsectp, const DVector3& pos, PClassActor*
 		act->curAction = &actions[sa[1]];
 		act->curMove = &moves[sa[2]];
 		act->spr.hitag = sa[3];
+
+		// remove script info if it is completely empty and no animation is set.
+		if (act->curAction->name == NAME_Name && act->curMove->name == NAME_Name && *sa == concmd_enda)
+		{
+			sa = nullptr;
+		}
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -156,7 +162,12 @@ DDukeActor* CreateActor(sectortype* whatsectp, const DVector3& pos, PClassActor*
 DDukeActor* SpawnActor(sectortype* whatsectp, const DVector3& pos, PClassActor* cls, int8_t s_shd, const DVector2& scale, DAngle s_ang, double s_vel, double s_zvel, DDukeActor* s_ow, int8_t s_stat)
 {
 	auto actor = CreateActor(whatsectp, pos, cls, s_shd, scale, s_ang, s_vel, s_zvel, s_ow, s_stat);
-	if (actor) spawninit(s_ow, actor, nullptr);
+	if (actor)
+	{
+		actor->flags3 |= SFLAG3_SIMPLEINIT; // at this point we only want to run custom Initialize code, but not the default for scripted actors, even if this one has scripts.
+		spawninit(s_ow, actor, nullptr);
+		actor->flags3 &= ~SFLAG3_SIMPLEINIT; // from now on act normally.
+	}
 	return actor;
 }
 
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/glasspieces.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/glasspieces.zs
index 4c79248bb..5c62b4d8a 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/glasspieces.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/glasspieces.zs
@@ -62,3 +62,11 @@ class DukeGlassPieces2 : DukeGlassPieces
 	}
 }
 
+class RedneckPopcorn : DukeGlassPieces
+{
+	default
+	{
+		pic "POPCORN";
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/redneckmisc.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/redneckmisc.zs
index d26a8a80d..4eb491a5b 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/redneckmisc.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/actors/redneckmisc.zs
@@ -71,15 +71,6 @@ class RedneckJoe9000 : DukeActor
 	}
 }
 
-class RedneckPopcorn : DukeActor
-{
-	default
-	{
-		pic "POPCORN";
-	}
-}
-
-
 class RedneckBellSwitch : DukeActor
 {
 	default
diff --git a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/dukeactor.zs b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/dukeactor.zs
index 650cf260f..84ddcb17d 100644
--- a/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/dukeactor.zs
+++ b/wadsrc/static/zscript/games/duke/dukeactor.zs
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class DukeActor : CoreActor native
 	
 	virtual void Initialize()
 	{
-		if (!self.badguy() && self.scripted())
+		if (!self.bSIMPLEINIT && !self.badguy() && self.scripted())
 		{
 			if (!self.mapSpawned) self.lotag = 0;