diff --git a/src/info.c b/src/info.c
index a4446d657..0ae723546 100644
--- a/src/info.c
+++ b/src/info.c
@@ -1791,7 +1791,11 @@ state_t states[NUMSTATES] =
 
 	// Blue Sphere for special stages
 	{SPR_SPHR, FF_FULLBRIGHT, -1, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_NULL}, // S_BLUESPHERE
-	{SPR_SPHR, FF_FULLBRIGHT|FF_ANIMATE|FF_RANDOMANIM, -1, {NULL}, 1, 4, S_NULL}, // S_BLUESPHEREBONUS
+	{SPR_SPHR, FF_FULLBRIGHT
+#ifdef MANIASPHERES
+							|FF_ANIMATE|FF_RANDOMANIM
+#endif
+													, -1, {NULL}, 1, 4, S_NULL}, // S_BLUESPHEREBONUS
 	{SPR_SPHR, 0, 20, {NULL}, 0, 0, S_NULL}, // S_BLUESPHERESPARK
 
 	// Bomb Sphere
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index c0aa7ffa3..0b391f390 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -859,12 +859,7 @@ void P_ReloadRings(void)
 			mt->z = (INT16)(R_PointInSubsector(mt->x << FRACBITS, mt->y << FRACBITS)
 				->sector->floorheight>>FRACBITS);
 
-			P_SpawnHoopsAndRings(mt,
-#ifdef MANIASPHERES
-				true);
-#else
-				!G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)); // prevent flashing spheres in special stages
-#endif
+			P_SpawnHoopsAndRings(mt, true);
 		}
 	}
 	for (i = 0; i < numHoops; i++)
@@ -878,11 +873,6 @@ void P_SwitchSpheresBonusMode(boolean bonustime)
 	mobj_t *mo;
 	thinker_t *th;
 
-#ifndef MANIASPHERES
-	if (G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap)) // prevent flashing spheres in special stages
-		return;
-#endif
-
 	// scan the thinkers to find spheres to switch
 	for (th = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; th != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; th = th->next)
 	{
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.c b/src/st_stuff.c
index 4122793ad..3b8fc749d 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.c
+++ b/src/st_stuff.c
@@ -1617,12 +1617,8 @@ static void ST_drawNiGHTSHUD(void)
 #endif
 	ST_DrawTopLeftOverlayPatch(16, 8, nbracket);
 	if (G_IsSpecialStage(gamemap))
-#ifdef MANIASPHERES
 		ST_DrawTopLeftOverlayPatch(24, 16, (
-			(stplyr->bonustime && (leveltime & 4)) ? nssbon : nsshud));
-#else
-		ST_DrawTopLeftOverlayPatch(24, 16, (nsshud));
-#endif
+			(stplyr->bonustime && (leveltime & 4) && (states[S_BLUESPHEREBONUS].frame & FF_ANIMATE)) ? nssbon : nsshud));
 	else
 		ST_DrawTopLeftOverlayPatch(24, 16, *(((stplyr->bonustime) ? nbon : nhud)+((leveltime/2)%12)));