diff --git a/src/console.c b/src/console.c
index fd4afe946..4341dd003 100644
--- a/src/console.c
+++ b/src/console.c
@@ -1920,7 +1920,7 @@ void CON_DrawLoadBar(void)
 	if (con_startup_loadprogress > CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS)
 	{
 		Unlock_state();
-		I_Error("CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS has not been updated!\n");
+		I_Error("CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS is too low! (is %d, got %d)\n", CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS, con_startup_loadprogress);
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/d_main.c b/src/d_main.c
index b8a30aff3..434d8c360 100644
--- a/src/d_main.c
+++ b/src/d_main.c
@@ -1843,6 +1843,12 @@ void D_SRB2Main(void)
 		DRPC_Init();
 	}
 #endif
+
+	if (con_startup_loadprogress < CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS)
+	{
+		I_Error("CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS is too high! (is %d, got %d)\n", CON_STARTUP_LOADSTEPS, con_startup_loadprogress);
+		return;
+	}
 }
 
 const char *D_Home(void)