diff --git a/src/d_player.h b/src/d_player.h
index 47a9e1bdf..2f27838bf 100644
--- a/src/d_player.h
+++ b/src/d_player.h
@@ -939,6 +939,8 @@ struct player_t
 
 	UINT16 infinitether; // Generic infinitether time, used for infinitether leniency.
 
+	UINT8 finalfailsafe; // When you can't Ringshooter, force respawn as a last ditch effort!
+
 	UINT8 lastsafelap;
 
 	mobj_t *stumbleIndicator;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index c481cb13a..a8545530d 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -8616,6 +8616,20 @@ void K_KartPlayerThink(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 			K_RemoveGrowShrink(player);
 	}
 
+	if (player->respawn.state == RESPAWNST_NONE && (player->cmd.buttons & BT_RESPAWN) == BT_RESPAWN)
+	{
+		player->finalfailsafe++; // Decremented by ringshooter to "freeze" this timer
+		if (player->finalfailsafe >= 4*TICRATE)
+		{
+			K_DoIngameRespawn(player);
+			player->finalfailsafe = 0;
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		player->finalfailsafe = 0;
+	}
+
 	if (player->superring)
 	{
 		player->nextringaward++;
diff --git a/src/lua_playerlib.c b/src/lua_playerlib.c
index be0e0b9d3..e7d603c6f 100644
--- a/src/lua_playerlib.c
+++ b/src/lua_playerlib.c
@@ -341,6 +341,8 @@ static int player_get(lua_State *L)
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->trickcharge);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"infinitether"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->infinitether);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"finalfailsafe"))
+		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->finalfailsafe);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"lastsafelap"))
 		lua_pushinteger(L, plr->lastsafelap);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"instaWhipCharge"))
@@ -841,6 +843,8 @@ static int player_set(lua_State *L)
 		plr->trickcharge = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"infinitether"))
 		plr->infinitether = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
+	else if (fastcmp(field,"finalfailsafe"))
+		plr->finalfailsafe = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"lastsafelap"))
 		plr->lastsafelap = luaL_checkinteger(L, 3);
 	else if (fastcmp(field,"instaWhipCharge"))
diff --git a/src/objects/ring-shooter.c b/src/objects/ring-shooter.c
index eee9a6d80..43869c12b 100644
--- a/src/objects/ring-shooter.c
+++ b/src/objects/ring-shooter.c
@@ -688,6 +688,10 @@ void Obj_RingShooterInput(player_t *player)
 	if (AllowRingShooter(player) == true
 		&& (player->cmd.buttons & BT_RESPAWN) == BT_RESPAWN)
 	{
+		// "Freeze" final-failsafe timer if we're eligible to ringshooter, but don't reset it.
+		if (player->finalfailsafe)
+			player->finalfailsafe--;
+
 		if (P_MobjWasRemoved(base) == true)
 		{
 			SpawnRingShooter(player);
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index 26b600fa1..88bb493d7 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -567,6 +567,8 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 
 		WRITEUINT16(save->p, players[i].infinitether);
 
+		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].finalfailsafe);
+
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].lastsafelap);
 
 		WRITEMEM(save->p, players[i].public_key, PUBKEYLENGTH);
@@ -1126,6 +1128,8 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 
 		players[i].infinitether = READUINT16(save->p);
 
+		players[i].finalfailsafe = READUINT8(save->p);
+
 		players[i].lastsafelap = READUINT8(save->p);
 
 		READMEM(save->p, players[i].public_key, PUBKEYLENGTH);