diff --git a/source/core/maploader.cpp b/source/core/maploader.cpp
index ed186cc8a..71da91c7e 100644
--- a/source/core/maploader.cpp
+++ b/source/core/maploader.cpp
@@ -284,7 +284,8 @@ void validateSprite(spritetype& spr, int sectnum, int index)
 		spr.statnum = MAXSTATUS;
 		sectnum = -1;
 	}
-	spr.sectp = &sector[sectnum];
+	if (sectnum >= 0) spr.sectp = &sector[sectnum];
+	else spr.sectp = nullptr;
 }
 
 static void ReadSpriteV7(FileReader& fr, spritetype& spr, int& secno)