diff --git a/src/k_bot.c b/src/k_bot.c
index 2a634c415..09f347339 100644
--- a/src/k_bot.c
+++ b/src/k_bot.c
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ void K_SetBot(UINT8 newplayernum, UINT8 skinnum, UINT8 difficulty, botStyle_e st
 	players[newplayernum].botvars.style = style;
 	players[newplayernum].lives = 9;
 
+	// The bot may immediately become a spectator AT THE START of a GP.
+	// For each subsequent round of GP, K_UpdateGrandPrixBots will handle this.
+	players[newplayernum].spectator = grandprixinfo.gp && grandprixinfo.initalize && K_BotDefaultSpectator();
+
 	players[newplayernum].skincolor = skins[skinnum].prefcolor;
 	sprintf(player_names[newplayernum], "%s", skins[skinnum].realname);
 	SetPlayerSkinByNum(newplayernum, skinnum);
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.c b/src/k_grandprix.c
index b5cf2772b..51f694c43 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.c
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.c
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ void K_LoadGrandPrixSaveGame(void)
 		players[i].botvars.rival = savedata.bots[i].rival;
 		players[i].score = savedata.bots[i].score;
 
-		players[i].spectator = !(gametyperules & GTR_BOTS) || (grandprixinfo.eventmode != GPEVENT_NONE);
+		players[i].spectator = K_BotDefaultSpectator();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -898,3 +898,25 @@ void K_PlayerFinishGrandPrix(player_t *player)
 
 	P_GivePlayerLives(player, player->xtralife);
 }
+
+/*--------------------------------------------------
+	boolean K_BotDefaultSpectator(player_t *player);
+
+		See header file for description.
+--------------------------------------------------*/
+boolean K_BotDefaultSpectator(void)
+{
+	if (!(gametyperules & GTR_BOTS))
+	{
+		// This gametype does not support bots.
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	if (grandprixinfo.eventmode != GPEVENT_NONE)
+	{
+		// This is a special round of GP, so bots must spectate.
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/k_grandprix.h b/src/k_grandprix.h
index 34315ba48..8839eff16 100644
--- a/src/k_grandprix.h
+++ b/src/k_grandprix.h
@@ -206,6 +206,15 @@ boolean K_CanChangeRules(boolean allowdemos);
 void K_PlayerFinishGrandPrix(player_t *player);
 
 
+/*--------------------------------------------------
+	boolean K_BotDefaultSpectator(void)
+
+		Check whether bots should spectate this round.
+--------------------------------------------------*/
+
+boolean K_BotDefaultSpectator(void);
+
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 } // extern "C"
 #endif