diff --git a/src/lua_maplib.c b/src/lua_maplib.c
index 27b97204f..c5555009f 100644
--- a/src/lua_maplib.c
+++ b/src/lua_maplib.c
@@ -2080,6 +2080,8 @@ static int mapheaderinfo_get(lua_State *L)
 		lua_pushinteger(L, header->levelflags);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"menuflags"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, header->menuflags);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"startrings"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, header->startrings);
 	// TODO add support for reading numGradedMares and grades
 	else {
 		// Read custom vars now
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index af4f1f9dd..259cbfea3 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ static void P_ClearSingleMapHeaderInfo(INT16 i)
 	mapheaderinfo[num]->actnum = 0;
 	mapheaderinfo[num]->typeoflevel = 0;
 	mapheaderinfo[num]->nextlevel = (INT16)(i + 1);
+	mapheaderinfo[num]->startrings = 0;
 	snprintf(mapheaderinfo[num]->musname, 7, "%sM", G_BuildMapName(i));
 	mapheaderinfo[num]->musname[6] = 0;
 	mapheaderinfo[num]->mustrack = 0;