diff --git a/src/p_mobj.c b/src/p_mobj.c
index 491436bf8..af896a40e 100644
--- a/src/p_mobj.c
+++ b/src/p_mobj.c
@@ -12310,6 +12310,11 @@ static boolean P_SpawnNonMobjMapThing(mapthing_t *mthing)
 	{
 		return true; // These are handled elsewhere.
 	}
+	else if (mthing->type > MAXPLAYERS && mthing->type <= 32) // be wary of playerstarts size!  playerstarts[MAXPLAYERS]
+	{
+		CONS_Alert(CONS_WARNING, "Excess player start detected %d\n", mthing->type);
+		return true;
+	}
 
 	return false;
 }