diff --git a/src/deh_soc.c b/src/deh_soc.c
index e9e184bae..7037c7f36 100644
--- a/src/deh_soc.c
+++ b/src/deh_soc.c
@@ -3564,6 +3564,13 @@ void readcupheader(MYFILE *f, cupheader_t *cup)
 				cup->levellist[CUPCACHE_SPECIAL] = MapNameOrRemoval(word2);
 				cup->cachedlevels[CUPCACHE_SPECIAL] = NEXTMAP_INVALID;
 			}
+			else if (fastcmp(word, "ALTPODIUM"))
+			{
+				invalidateacrosscups(cup->cachedlevels[CUPCACHE_PODIUM]);
+				Z_Free(cup->levellist[CUPCACHE_PODIUM]);
+				cup->levellist[CUPCACHE_PODIUM] = MapNameOrRemoval(word2);
+				cup->cachedlevels[CUPCACHE_PODIUM] = NEXTMAP_INVALID;
+			}
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "EMERALDNUM"))
 			{
 				if (i >= 0 && i <= 14)
diff --git a/src/doomstat.h b/src/doomstat.h
index e6787116e..d25ca720c 100644
--- a/src/doomstat.h
+++ b/src/doomstat.h
@@ -383,7 +383,8 @@ struct customoption_t
 #define CUPCACHE_BONUS MAXLEVELLIST
 #define MAXBONUSLIST 2
 #define CUPCACHE_SPECIAL (CUPCACHE_BONUS+MAXBONUSLIST)
-#define CUPCACHE_MAX (CUPCACHE_SPECIAL+1)
+#define CUPCACHE_PODIUM (CUPCACHE_SPECIAL+1)
+#define CUPCACHE_MAX (CUPCACHE_PODIUM+1)
 
 #define MAXCUPNAME 16 // includes \0, for cleaner savedata
 
diff --git a/src/k_podium.c b/src/k_podium.c
index 630048e98..c5c70bdb9 100644
--- a/src/k_podium.c
+++ b/src/k_podium.c
@@ -235,16 +235,25 @@ void K_UpdatePodiumWaypoints(player_t *const player)
 --------------------------------------------------*/
 boolean K_StartCeremony(void)
 {
-	INT32 podiumMapNum = nummapheaders;
-	INT32 i;
-
 	if (grandprixinfo.gp == false)
 	{
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (podiummap
-		&& ((podiumMapNum = G_MapNumber(podiummap)) < nummapheaders)
+	INT32 i;
+	INT32 podiumMapNum = NEXTMAP_INVALID;
+
+	if (grandprixinfo.cup != NULL
+	&& grandprixinfo.cup->cachedlevels[CUPCACHE_PODIUM] != NEXTMAP_INVALID)
+	{
+		podiumMapNum = grandprixinfo.cup->cachedlevels[CUPCACHE_PODIUM];
+	}
+	else if (podiummap)
+	{
+		podiumMapNum = G_MapNumber(podiummap);
+	}
+
+	if (podiumMapNum < nummapheaders
 		&& mapheaderinfo[podiumMapNum]
 		&& mapheaderinfo[podiumMapNum]->lumpnum != LUMPERROR)
 	{