diff --git a/src/netcode/server_connection.c b/src/netcode/server_connection.c
index 258d4cce44eda0d78156bea4d38bb80b6c22d487..faff7e8dd73ddc9d08d0c006f5cb3c2cec749976 100644
--- a/src/netcode/server_connection.c
+++ b/src/netcode/server_connection.c
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ static void SV_SendPlayerInfo(INT32 node)
 
 	for (UINT8 i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 	{
-		if (!netnodes[playernode[i]].ingame)
+		if (playernode[i] == UINT8_MAX || !netnodes[playernode[i]].ingame)
 		{
 			netbuffer->u.playerinfo[i].num = 255; // This slot is empty.
 			continue;