diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index 51d205931..b62840e45 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -831,27 +831,6 @@ void D_RegisterClientCommands(void)
 {
 	INT32 i;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < MAXSKINCOLORS; i++)
-	{
-		Color_cons_t[i].value = i;
-		Color_cons_t[i].strvalue = skincolors[i].name;
-	}
-
-	for (i = 2; i < MAXSKINCOLORS; i++)
-	{
-		Followercolor_cons_t[i].value = i-2;
-		Followercolor_cons_t[i].strvalue = skincolors[i-2].name;
-	}
-
-	Followercolor_cons_t[1].value = FOLLOWERCOLOR_MATCH;
-	Followercolor_cons_t[1].strvalue = "Match"; // Add "Match" option, which will make the follower color match the player's
-
-	Followercolor_cons_t[0].value = FOLLOWERCOLOR_OPPOSITE;
-	Followercolor_cons_t[0].strvalue = "Opposite"; // Add "Opposite" option, ...which is like "Match", but for coloropposite.
-
-	Color_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS].value = Followercolor_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS+2].value = 0;
-	Color_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS].strvalue = Followercolor_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS+2].strvalue = NULL;
-
 	// Set default player names
 	// Monster Iestyn (12/08/19): not sure where else I could have actually put this, but oh well
 	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index 4ae9927f4..c19db90ae 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -3161,7 +3161,7 @@ void readfollower(MYFILE *f)
 	followers[numfollowers].bobspeed = TICRATE*2;
 	followers[numfollowers].bobamp = 4*FRACUNIT;
 	followers[numfollowers].hitconfirmtime = TICRATE;
-	followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor = SKINCOLOR_GREEN;
+	followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor = FOLLOWERCOLOR_MATCH;
 	strcpy(followers[numfollowers].icon, "M_NORANK");
 
 	do
@@ -3215,7 +3215,20 @@ void readfollower(MYFILE *f)
 			}
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "DEFAULTCOLOR"))
 			{
-				followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor = get_number(word2);
+				INT32 j;
+				for (j = 0; j < numskincolors +2; j++)	// +2 because of Match and Opposite
+				{
+					if (!stricmp(Followercolor_cons_t[j].strvalue, word2))
+					{
+						followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor = Followercolor_cons_t[j].value;
+						break;
+					}
+				}
+
+				if (j == numskincolors+2)
+				{
+					deh_warning("Follower %d: unknown follower color '%s'", numfollowers, word2);
+				}
 			}
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "SCALE"))
 			{
@@ -3373,13 +3386,6 @@ if ((signed)followers[numfollowers].field < threshold) \
 
 #undef FALLBACK
 
-	// Special case for color I suppose
-	if (followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor > (unsigned)(numskincolors-1))
-	{
-		followers[numfollowers].defaultcolor = SKINCOLOR_GREEN;
-		deh_warning("Follower \'%s\': Value for 'color' should be between 1 and %d.\n", dname, numskincolors-1);
-	}
-
 	// also check if we forgot states. If we did, we will set any missing state to the follower's idlestate.
 	// Print a warning in case we don't have a fallback and set the state to S_INVISIBLE (rather than S_NULL) if unavailable.
 
diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 8db8fac2c..db838ab91 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -4263,8 +4263,26 @@ void G_EndGame(void)
 // Sets a tad of default info we need.
 void G_LoadGameSettings(void)
 {
+	INT32 i;
+
 	// initialize free sfx slots for skin sounds
 	S_InitRuntimeSounds();
+
+	// Prepare skincolor material.
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXSKINCOLORS; i++)
+	{
+		Color_cons_t[i].value = Followercolor_cons_t[i+2].value = i;
+		Color_cons_t[i].strvalue = Followercolor_cons_t[i+2].strvalue = skincolors[i].name;
+	}
+
+	Followercolor_cons_t[1].value = FOLLOWERCOLOR_MATCH;
+	Followercolor_cons_t[1].strvalue = "Match"; // Add "Match" option, which will make the follower color match the player's
+
+	Followercolor_cons_t[0].value = FOLLOWERCOLOR_OPPOSITE;
+	Followercolor_cons_t[0].strvalue = "Opposite"; // Add "Opposite" option, ...which is like "Match", but for coloropposite.
+
+	Color_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS].value = Followercolor_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS+2].value = 0;
+	Color_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS].strvalue = Followercolor_cons_t[MAXSKINCOLORS+2].strvalue = NULL;
 }
 
 #define GD_VERSIONCHECK 0xBA5ED444 // Change every major version, as usual