diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index a7e343550..46ef6c8b7 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -3657,7 +3657,7 @@ angle_t K_MomentumAngleReal(const mobj_t *mo)
 	}
 }
 
-void K_AwardPlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 rings, boolean overload)
+void K_AwardPlayerRings(player_t *player, UINT16 rings, boolean overload)
 {
 	UINT16 superring;
 
@@ -3668,7 +3668,11 @@ void K_AwardPlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 rings, boolean overload)
 
 		/* capped at 20 rings */
 		if ((totalrings + rings) > 20)
+		{
+			if (totalrings >= 20)
+				return; // woah dont let that go negative buster
 			rings = (20 - totalrings);
+		}
 	}
 
 	superring = player->superring + rings;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.h b/src/k_kart.h
index cbaf17554..7a4424f08 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.h
+++ b/src/k_kart.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ void K_KartPlayerAfterThink(player_t *player);
 angle_t K_MomentumAngleEx(const mobj_t *mo, const fixed_t threshold);
 angle_t K_MomentumAngleReal(const mobj_t *mo);
 #define K_MomentumAngle(mo) K_MomentumAngleEx(mo, 6 * mo->scale)
-void K_AwardPlayerRings(player_t *player, INT32 rings, boolean overload);
+void K_AwardPlayerRings(player_t *player, UINT16 rings, boolean overload);
 void K_DoInstashield(player_t *player);
 void K_DoPowerClash(mobj_t *t1, mobj_t *t2);
 void K_DoGuardBreak(mobj_t *t1, mobj_t *t2);