diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 96d57b7f5..e2eec43a7 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1798,11 +1798,25 @@ void G_Ticker(boolean run)
 
 	P_MapStart();
 
-	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL && G_GetRetryFlag())
 	{
-		// Or, alternatively, retry.
-		if (G_GetRetryFlag())
+		if (demo.playback == true)
 		{
+			// Stop playback!!
+			G_ClearRetryFlag();
+			// G_CheckDemoStatus() called here fails an I_Assert in g_party.cpp Console()!?
+			// I'm sure there's a completely logical explanation and an elegant solution
+			// where we can defer some sort of state change. However I'm tired, I've been
+			// looking after my niece, my arm hurts a bit when using mouse/keyboard, and
+			// we are ALMOST DONE. So I'm going to bodge this for the sake of release.
+			// The minimal set of calls to dump you back to the menu as soon as possible
+			// will have to do, so that everybody can have fun racing as rings. ~toast 050424
+			G_StopDemo();
+			Command_ExitGame_f();
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Or, alternatively, retry.
 			for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
 			{
 				if (playeringame[i])
@@ -3125,10 +3139,11 @@ void G_FinishExitLevel(void)
 
 	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
 	{
+		const boolean worknetgame = (demo.playback ? demo.netgame : netgame);
 		if (g_exit.retry)
 		{
 			// Restart cup here whenever we do Online GP
-			if (!netgame)
+			if (!worknetgame)
 			{
 				// We have lives, just redo this one course.
 				G_SetRetryFlag();
@@ -3137,11 +3152,18 @@ void G_FinishExitLevel(void)
 		}
 		else if (g_exit.losing)
 		{
-			// We were in a Special Stage.
+			// Were we in a Special Stage?
 			// We can still progress to the podium when we game over here.
 			const boolean special = grandprixinfo.gp == true && grandprixinfo.cup != NULL && grandprixinfo.eventmode == GPEVENT_SPECIAL;
 
-			if (!netgame && !special)
+			if (demo.playback && !worknetgame)
+			{
+				// Guarantee conclusion to Sealed Star replay
+				G_SetRetryFlag();
+				return;
+			}
+
+			if (!worknetgame && !special)
 			{
 				// Back to the menu with you.
 				G_HandleSaveLevel(true);