diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index e926cf520..7252a9d34 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -996,11 +996,6 @@ static void SendNameAndColor(const UINT8 n)
 		cv_follower[n].value = -1;
 	}
 
-	if (sendColor == SKINCOLOR_NONE)
-	{
-		sendColor = skins[cv_skin[n].value].prefcolor;
-	}
-
 	if (sendFollowerColor == SKINCOLOR_NONE)
 	{
 		if (cv_follower[n].value >= 0)
@@ -1015,11 +1010,11 @@ static void SendNameAndColor(const UINT8 n)
 
 	// Don't send if everything was identical.
 	if (!strcmp(cv_playername[n].string, player_names[playernum])
-		&& sendColor == player->skincolor
-		&& !stricmp(cv_skin[n].string, skins[player->skin].name)
+		&& sendColor == player->prefcolor
+		&& !stricmp(cv_skin[n].string, skins[player->prefskin].name)
 		&& !stricmp(cv_follower[n].string,
-			(player->followerskin < 0 ? "None" : followers[player->followerskin].name))
-		&& sendFollowerColor == player->followercolor)
+			(player->preffollower < 0 ? "None" : followers[player->preffollower].name))
+		&& sendFollowerColor == player->preffollowercolor)
 	{
 		return;
 	}
@@ -1123,7 +1118,6 @@ static void Got_NameAndColor(const UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 	UINT16 color, followercolor;
 	UINT8 skin;
 	INT16 follower;
-	SINT8 localplayer = -1;
 	UINT8 i;
 
 #ifdef PARANOIA
@@ -1145,8 +1139,6 @@ static void Got_NameAndColor(const UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 				I_Error("snacpending[%d] negative!", i);
 			}
 #endif
-
-			localplayer = i;
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1164,95 +1156,22 @@ static void Got_NameAndColor(const UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 			SetPlayerName(playernum, name);
 	}
 
-	// set color
-	p->skincolor = color % numskincolors;
-	if (p->mo)
-		p->mo->color = (UINT16)p->skincolor;
-	demo_extradata[playernum] |= DXD_COLOR;
-
-	// normal player colors
-	if (server && !P_IsMachineLocalPlayer(p))
+	// queue the rest for next round
+	p->prefcolor = color % numskincolors;
+	if (K_ColorUsable(p->prefcolor, false, false) == false)
 	{
-		boolean kick = false;
-
-		// don't allow inaccessible colors
-		if (K_ColorUsable(p->skincolor, false, false) == false)
-		{
-			kick = true;
-		}
-
-		if (kick)
-		{
-			CONS_Alert(CONS_WARNING, M_GetText("Illegal color change received from %s, color: %d)\n"), player_names[playernum], p->skincolor);
-			SendKick(playernum, KICK_MSG_CON_FAIL);
-			return;
-		}
+		p->prefcolor = SKINCOLOR_NONE;
 	}
 
-	// set skin
-	if (cv_forceskin.value >= 0 && K_CanChangeRules(true)) // Server wants everyone to use the same player
+	p->prefskin = skin;
+	p->preffollowercolor = followercolor;
+	p->preffollower = follower;
+
+	if (p->jointime < 1)
 	{
-		const INT32 forcedskin = cv_forceskin.value;
-		SetPlayerSkinByNum(playernum, forcedskin);
-
-		if (localplayer != -1)
-			CV_StealthSet(&cv_skin[localplayer], skins[forcedskin].name);
+		// Just entered, update preferences immediately
+		G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(p);
 	}
-	else
-	{
-		UINT8 oldskin = players[playernum].skin;
-
-		SetPlayerSkinByNum(playernum, skin);
-
-		// The following is a miniature subset of Got_Teamchange.
-		if ((gamestate == GS_LEVEL) // In a level?
-			&& (players[playernum].jointime > 1) // permit on join
-			&& (leveltime > introtime) // permit during intro turnaround
-			&& (players[playernum].skin != oldskin)) // a skin change actually happened?
-		{
-			players[playernum].roundconditions.switched_skin = true;
-
-			if (
-				cv_restrictskinchange.value // Skin changes are restricted?
-				&& G_GametypeHasSpectators() // not a spectator...
-				&& players[playernum].spectator == false // ...but could be?
-			)
-			{
-				for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; ++i)
-				{
-					if (i == playernum)
-						continue;
-					if (!playeringame[i])
-						continue;
-					if (players[i].spectator)
-						continue;
-					break;
-				}
-
-				if (i != MAXPLAYERS // Someone on your server who isn't you?
-					&& LUA_HookTeamSwitch(&players[playernum], 0, false, false, false)) // fiiiine, lua can except it
-				{
-					P_DamageMobj(players[playernum].mo, NULL, NULL, 1, DMG_SPECTATOR);
-
-					if (players[i].spectator)
-					{
-						HU_AddChatText(va("\x82*%s became a spectator.", player_names[playernum]), false);
-
-						FinalisePlaystateChange(playernum);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
-	// set follower colour:
-	// Don't bother doing garbage and kicking if we receive None,
-	// this is both silly and a waste of time,
-	// this will be handled properly in K_HandleFollower.
-	p->followercolor = followercolor;
-
-	// set follower
-	K_SetFollowerByNum(playernum, follower);
 }
 
 enum {
diff --git a/src/d_player.h b/src/d_player.h
index 00bb5d1c5..507345629 100644
--- a/src/d_player.h
+++ b/src/d_player.h
@@ -671,6 +671,11 @@ struct player_t
 	UINT8 carry;
 	UINT16 dye;
 
+	INT32 prefskin; // Queued skin change
+	UINT16 prefcolor; // Queued color change
+	INT32 preffollower; // Queued follower change
+	UINT16 preffollowercolor; // Queued follower color change
+
 	// SRB2kart stuff
 	INT32 karthud[NUMKARTHUD];
 
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 0158f6e6b..cacfd7d4f 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1778,6 +1778,65 @@ void G_FixCamera(UINT8 view)
 	R_ResetViewInterpolation(view);
 }
 
+void G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(player_t *const player)
+{
+	// set skin
+	INT32 new_skin = player->prefskin;
+	if (K_CanChangeRules(true) == true && cv_forceskin.value >= 0)
+	{
+		// Server wants everyone to use the same player
+		new_skin = cv_forceskin.value;
+	}
+
+	if (player->skin != new_skin)
+	{
+		SetPlayerSkinByNum(player - players, new_skin);
+	}
+
+	// set color
+	UINT16 new_color = player->prefcolor;
+	if (new_color == SKINCOLOR_NONE)
+	{
+		new_color = skins[player->skin].prefcolor;
+	}
+
+	if (player->skincolor != new_color)
+	{
+		player->skincolor = new_color;
+		K_KartResetPlayerColor(player);
+	}
+
+	// set follower
+	if (player->followerskin != player->preffollower)
+	{
+		K_SetFollowerByNum(player - players, player->preffollower);
+	}
+
+	// set follower color
+	if (player->followercolor != player->preffollowercolor)
+	{
+		// Don't bother doing garbage and kicking if we receive None,
+		// this is both silly and a waste of time,
+		// this will be handled properly in K_HandleFollower.
+		player->followercolor = player->preffollowercolor;
+	}
+}
+
+void G_UpdateAllPlayerPreferences(void)
+{
+	INT32 i;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+	{
+		if (playeringame[i] == false)
+		{
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(&players[i]);
+	}
+}
+
 //
 // G_Ticker
 // Make ticcmd_ts for the players.
@@ -1871,6 +1930,13 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 			K_UpdateAllPlayerPositions();
 		}
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		if (run)
+		{
+			G_UpdateAllPlayerPreferences();
+		}
+	}
 
 	P_MapEnd();
 
@@ -2186,6 +2252,11 @@ void G_PlayerReborn(INT32 player, boolean betweenmaps)
 
 	tic_t laptime[LAP__MAX];
 
+	UINT16 prefcolor;
+	INT32 prefskin;
+	UINT16 preffollowercolor;
+	INT32 preffollower;
+
 	INT32 i;
 
 	// This needs to be first, to permit it to wipe extra information
@@ -2209,6 +2280,11 @@ void G_PlayerReborn(INT32 player, boolean betweenmaps)
 	skincolor = players[player].skincolor;
 	skin = players[player].skin;
 
+	prefcolor = players[player].prefcolor;
+	prefskin = players[player].prefskin;
+	preffollower = players[player].preffollower;
+	preffollowercolor = players[player].preffollowercolor;
+
 	if (betweenmaps)
 	{
 		fakeskin = MAXSKINS;
@@ -2463,6 +2539,11 @@ void G_PlayerReborn(INT32 player, boolean betweenmaps)
 	p->skincolor = skincolor;
 	p->skin = skin;
 
+	p->prefcolor = prefcolor;
+	p->prefskin = prefskin;
+	p->preffollower = preffollower;
+	p->preffollowercolor = preffollowercolor;
+
 	p->fakeskin = fakeskin;
 	p->kartspeed = kartspeed;
 	p->kartweight = kartweight;
diff --git a/src/g_game.h b/src/g_game.h
index 5d33303c8..5a1296aee 100644
--- a/src/g_game.h
+++ b/src/g_game.h
@@ -232,6 +232,9 @@ void G_UpdateTimeStickerMedals(UINT16 map, boolean showownrecord);
 void G_TickTimeStickerMedals(void);
 void G_UpdateRecords(void);
 
+void G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(player_t *const player);
+void G_UpdateAllPlayerPreferences(void);
+
 void G_Ticker(boolean run);
 boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev);
 
diff --git a/src/k_bot.cpp b/src/k_bot.cpp
index 5e00814ff..841385f6a 100644
--- a/src/k_bot.cpp
+++ b/src/k_bot.cpp
@@ -174,16 +174,18 @@ void K_SetBot(UINT8 newplayernum, UINT8 skinnum, UINT8 difficulty, botStyle_e st
 				break;
 		}
 	}
-	players[newplayernum].skincolor = color;
-	K_SetNameForBot(newplayernum, realname);
 
-	SetPlayerSkinByNum(newplayernum, skinnum);
+	K_SetNameForBot(newplayernum, realname);
 
 	for (UINT8 i = 0; i < PWRLV_NUMTYPES; i++)
 	{
 		clientpowerlevels[newplayernum][i] = 0;
 	}
 
+	players[newplayernum].prefcolor = color;
+	players[newplayernum].prefskin = skinnum;
+	G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(&players[newplayernum]);
+
 	if (netgame)
 	{
 		HU_AddChatText(va("\x82*Bot %d has been added to the game", newplayernum+1), false);
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.c b/src/k_grandprix.c
index 8991a9606..ad7d17474 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.c
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.c
@@ -791,10 +791,12 @@ void K_RetireBots(void)
 			bot->botvars.difficulty = newDifficulty;
 			bot->botvars.diffincrease = 0;
 
-			SetPlayerSkinByNum(i, skinnum);
-			bot->skincolor = skins[skinnum].prefcolor;
 			K_SetNameForBot(i, skins[skinnum].realname);
 
+			bot->prefskin = skinnum;
+			bot->prefcolor = skins[skinnum].prefcolor;
+			G_UpdatePlayerPreferences(bot);
+
 			bot->score = 0;
 			bot->pflags &= ~PF_NOCONTEST;
 		}
diff --git a/src/lua_playerlib.c b/src/lua_playerlib.c
index 9398ea373..c8d705d1f 100644
--- a/src/lua_playerlib.c
+++ b/src/lua_playerlib.c
@@ -557,6 +557,14 @@ static int player_get(lua_State *L)
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->followercolor);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"follower"))
 		LUA_PushUserdata(L, plr->follower, META_MOBJ);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"prefskin"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->prefskin);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"prefcolor"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->prefcolor);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"preffollower"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->preffollower);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"preffollowercolor"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->preffollowercolor);
 	//
 
 	// rideroids
@@ -1122,8 +1130,16 @@ static int player_set(lua_State *L)
 		plr->followercolor = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"followerready"))
 		plr->followerready = luaL_checkboolean(L, 3);
-	else if (fastcmp(field,"follower"))	// it's probably best we don't allow the follower mobj to change.
-		return NOSET;
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"follower"))
+		return NOSET; // it's probably best we don't allow the follower mobj to change.
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"prefskin"))
+		return NOSET; // don't allow changing user preferences
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"prefcolor"))
+		return NOSET; // don't allow changing user preferences
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"preffollower"))
+		return NOSET; // don't allow changing user preferences
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"preffollowercolor"))
+		return NOSET; // don't allow changing user preferences
 
 	// time to add to the endless elseif list!!!!
 	// rideroids
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index a8638d03d..3858b13c1 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].flashpal);
 		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].flashcount);
 
-		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].skincolor);
+		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].skincolor);
 		WRITEINT32(save->p, players[i].skin);
 
 		for (j = 0; j < MAXAVAILABILITY; j++)
@@ -257,6 +257,12 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].fakeskin);
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].lastfakeskin);
+
+		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].prefcolor);
+		WRITEINT32(save->p, players[i].prefskin);
+		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].preffollowercolor);
+		WRITEINT32(save->p, players[i].preffollower);
+
 		WRITEUINT32(save->p, players[i].score);
 		WRITESINT8(save->p, players[i].lives);
 		WRITESINT8(save->p, players[i].xtralife);
@@ -919,7 +925,7 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		players[i].flashpal = READUINT16(save->p);
 		players[i].flashcount = READUINT16(save->p);
 
-		players[i].skincolor = READUINT8(save->p);
+		players[i].skincolor = READUINT16(save->p);
 		players[i].skin = READINT32(save->p);
 
 		for (j = 0; j < MAXAVAILABILITY; j++)
@@ -929,6 +935,12 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 
 		players[i].fakeskin = READUINT8(save->p);
 		players[i].lastfakeskin = READUINT8(save->p);
+
+		players[i].prefcolor = READUINT16(save->p);
+		players[i].prefskin = READINT32(save->p);
+		players[i].preffollowercolor = READUINT16(save->p);
+		players[i].preffollower = READINT32(save->p);
+
 		players[i].score = READUINT32(save->p);
 		players[i].lives = READSINT8(save->p);
 		players[i].xtralife = READSINT8(save->p); // Ring Extra Life counter
diff --git a/src/p_setup.cpp b/src/p_setup.cpp
index e719c755a..fea320794 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.cpp
+++ b/src/p_setup.cpp
@@ -7978,6 +7978,9 @@ static void P_InitPlayers(void)
 	// Make sure objectplace is OFF when you first start the level!
 	OP_ResetObjectplace();
 
+	// Update skins / colors between levels.
+	G_UpdateAllPlayerPreferences();
+
 	// Are we forcing a character?
 	if (gametype == GT_TUTORIAL)
 	{
diff --git a/src/r_skins.c b/src/r_skins.c
index fb184172f..2cb8793a8 100644
--- a/src/r_skins.c
+++ b/src/r_skins.c
@@ -408,22 +408,6 @@ static void SetSkin(player_t *player, INT32 skinnum)
 	player->kartweight = skin->kartweight;
 	player->charflags = skin->flags;
 
-#if 0
-	if (!CV_CheatsEnabled() && !(netgame || multiplayer || demo.playback))
-	{
-		for (i = 0; i <= r_splitscreen; i++)
-		{
-			if (playernum == g_localplayers[i])
-			{
-				CV_StealthSetValue(&cv_playercolor[i], skin->prefcolor);
-			}
-		}
-
-		player->skincolor = skin->prefcolor;
-		K_KartResetPlayerColor(player);
-	}
-#endif
-
 	if (player->followmobj)
 	{
 		P_RemoveMobj(player->followmobj);