diff --git a/src/dehacked.c b/src/dehacked.c
index 87afa08d0..25f1dac65 100644
--- a/src/dehacked.c
+++ b/src/dehacked.c
@@ -9934,17 +9934,17 @@ static inline int lib_getenum(lua_State *L)
 		return 1;
 	// local player variables, by popular request
 	} else if (fastcmp(word,"consoleplayer")) { // player controlling console (aka local player 1)
-		if (!playeringame[consoleplayer])
+		if (consoleplayer < 0 || !playeringame[consoleplayer])
 			return 0;
 		LUA_PushUserdata(L, &players[consoleplayer], META_PLAYER);
 		return 1;
 	} else if (fastcmp(word,"displayplayer")) { // player visible on screen (aka display player 1)
-		if (!playeringame[displayplayer])
+		if (displayplayer < 0 || !playeringame[displayplayer])
 			return 0;
 		LUA_PushUserdata(L, &players[displayplayer], META_PLAYER);
 		return 1;
 	} else if (fastcmp(word,"secondarydisplayplayer")) { // local/display player 2, for splitscreen
-		if (!splitscreen || !playeringame[secondarydisplayplayer])
+		if (!splitscreen || secondarydisplayplayer < 0 || consoleplayer >= MAXPLAYERS || !playeringame[secondarydisplayplayer])
 			return 0;
 		LUA_PushUserdata(L, &players[secondarydisplayplayer], META_PLAYER);
 		return 1;