diff --git a/src/k_specialstage.c b/src/k_specialstage.c
index f40a65b86..9891a5ddd 100644
--- a/src/k_specialstage.c
+++ b/src/k_specialstage.c
@@ -161,6 +161,53 @@ mobj_t *K_GetPossibleSpecialTarget(void)
 	return specialstageinfo.ufo;
 }
 
+/*--------------------------------------------------
+	boolean K_PlayerIsEmptyHandedInSpecial(void)
+
+		See header file for description.
+--------------------------------------------------*/
+boolean K_PlayerIsEmptyHandedInSpecial(player_t *player)
+{
+	if (specialstageinfo.valid == false)
+		return false; // Not Sealed Star
+
+	if (!(specialstageinfo.ufo == NULL || P_MobjWasRemoved(specialstageinfo.ufo)))
+		return true; // UFO exists
+
+	thinker_t *think;
+	mobj_t *thing;
+	player_t *orbitplayer = NULL;
+	for (think = thlist[THINK_MOBJ].next; think != &thlist[THINK_MOBJ]; think = think->next)
+	{
+		if (think->function.acp1 == (actionf_p1)P_RemoveThinkerDelayed)
+			continue;
+
+		thing = (mobj_t *)think;
+		if (thing->type != MT_EMERALD)
+			continue;
+
+		// emerald_award(thing)
+		if (!thing->tracer || P_MobjWasRemoved(thing->tracer))
+			continue;
+		if (thing->tracer->type != MT_PLAYER || !thing->tracer->player)
+			continue;
+
+		orbitplayer = thing->tracer->player;
+
+		if (orbitplayer->exiting && !(orbitplayer->pflags & PF_NOCONTEST))
+		{
+			// Another player has successfully taken the emerald to the end
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		// The emerald is being carried, but not by you
+		return (orbitplayer != player);
+	}
+
+	// EMERALD DELETED!?
+	return true;
+}
+
 /*--------------------------------------------------
 	void K_FadeOutSpecialMusic(UINT32 distance)
 
diff --git a/src/k_specialstage.h b/src/k_specialstage.h
index cc26ca352..f0e194479 100644
--- a/src/k_specialstage.h
+++ b/src/k_specialstage.h
@@ -68,6 +68,21 @@ void K_TickSpecialStage(void);
 
 mobj_t *K_GetPossibleSpecialTarget(void);
 
+/*--------------------------------------------------
+	boolean K_PlayerIsEmptyHandedInSpecial(player_t *player)
+
+		Gets whether the player has failed a Sealed
+		Star via finishing without an Emerald
+
+	Input Arguments:-
+		player - Player to check for
+
+	Return:-
+		Should player fail or not
+--------------------------------------------------*/
+
+boolean K_PlayerIsEmptyHandedInSpecial(player_t *player);
+
 /*--------------------------------------------------
 	void K_FadeOutSpecialMusic(UINT32 distance)
 
diff --git a/src/p_spec.c b/src/p_spec.c
index 15865499e..7b49461a2 100644
--- a/src/p_spec.c
+++ b/src/p_spec.c
@@ -1997,7 +1997,7 @@ static void K_HandleLapIncrement(player_t *player)
 				if (specialstageinfo.valid == true)
 				{
 					// Don't permit a win just by sneaking ahead of the UFO/emerald.
-					if (!(specialstageinfo.ufo == NULL || P_MobjWasRemoved(specialstageinfo.ufo)))
+					if (K_PlayerIsEmptyHandedInSpecial(player))
 					{
 						applyflags |= PF_NOCONTEST;