diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 85d7df1f7..2e9d47725 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -1326,13 +1326,20 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+	if (Playing())
 	{
+		// If you're playing, chat is real.
+		// Neatly sidesteps a class of bugs where whenever we add a
+		// new gamestate accessible in netplay, chat was console-only.
 		if (HU_Responder(ev))
 		{
 			hu_keystrokes = true;
 			return true; // chat ate the event
 		}
+	}
+
+	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL)
+	{
 		if (AM_Responder(ev))
 			return true; // automap ate it
 		// map the event (key/mouse/joy) to a gamecontrol
@@ -1348,12 +1355,6 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	}
 	else if (gamestate == GS_CUTSCENE)
 	{
-		if (HU_Responder(ev))
-		{
-			hu_keystrokes = true;
-			return true; // chat ate the event
-		}
-
 		if (F_CutsceneResponder(ev))
 		{
 			D_StartTitle();
@@ -1362,12 +1363,6 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	}
 	else if (gamestate == GS_CREDITS)
 	{
-		if (HU_Responder(ev))
-		{
-			hu_keystrokes = true;
-			return true; // chat ate the event
-		}
-
 		if (F_CreditResponder(ev))
 		{
 			return true;
@@ -1375,12 +1370,6 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	}
 	else if (gamestate == GS_EVALUATION)
 	{
-		if (HU_Responder(ev))
-		{
-			hu_keystrokes = true;
-			return true; // chat ate the event
-		}
-
 		if (F_EvaluationResponder(ev))
 		{
 			return true;
@@ -1388,12 +1377,6 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 	}
 	else if (gamestate == GS_CEREMONY)
 	{
-		if (HU_Responder(ev))
-		{
-			hu_keystrokes = true;
-			return true; // chat ate the event
-		}
-
 		if (K_CeremonyResponder(ev))
 		{
 			if (grandprixinfo.gp == true
@@ -1411,18 +1394,6 @@ boolean G_Responder(event_t *ev)
 			return true;
 		}
 	}
-	else if (gamestate == GS_CONTINUING)
-	{
-		return true;
-	}
-	else if (gamestate == GS_INTERMISSION || gamestate == GS_VOTING || gamestate == GS_EVALUATION)
-	{
-		if (HU_Responder(ev))
-		{
-			hu_keystrokes = true;
-			return true; // chat ate the event
-		}
-	}
 
 	if (gamestate == GS_LEVEL && ev->type == ev_keydown && multiplayer && demo.playback && !demo.freecam)
 	{