diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 85a73e045..ecacc269b 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -246,11 +246,11 @@ INT32 gameovertics = 15*TICRATE;
 UINT8 ammoremovaltics = 2*TICRATE;
 
 // SRB2kart
-tic_t introtime = 0;
-tic_t starttime = 0;
+tic_t introtime = 3;
+tic_t starttime = 3;
 
 const tic_t bulbtime = TICRATE/2;
-UINT8 numbulbs = 0;
+UINT8 numbulbs = 1;
 
 tic_t raceexittime = 5*TICRATE + (2*TICRATE/3);
 tic_t battleexittime = 8*TICRATE;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 94b2b1237..0f97aa9d6 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -43,6 +43,63 @@
 // indirectitemcooldown is timer before anyone's allowed another Shrink/SPB
 // mapreset is set when enough players fill an empty server
 
+void K_TimerReset(void)
+{
+	starttime = introtime = 3;
+	numbulbs = 1;
+}
+
+void K_TimerInit(void)
+{
+	UINT8 i;
+	UINT8 numPlayers = 0;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+	{
+		if (!playeringame[i])
+		{
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		if (players[i].spectator == true)
+		{
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		numPlayers++;
+	}
+
+	if (numPlayers >= 2)
+	{
+		rainbowstartavailable = true;
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		rainbowstartavailable = false;
+	}
+
+	if (numPlayers <= 2)
+	{
+		introtime = 0; // No intro in Record Attack / 1v1
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		introtime = (108) + 5; // 108 for rotation, + 5 for white fade
+	}
+
+	numbulbs = 5;
+
+	if (numPlayers > 2)
+	{
+		numbulbs += (numPlayers-2);
+	}
+
+	starttime = (introtime + (3*TICRATE)) + ((2*TICRATE) + (numbulbs * bulbtime)); // Start countdown time, + buffer time
+
+	// NOW you can try to spawn in the Battle capsules, if there's not enough players for a match
+	K_SpawnBattleCapsules();
+}
+
 UINT16 K_GetPlayerDontDrawFlag(player_t *player)
 {
 	UINT16 flag = 0;
diff --git a/src/k_kart.h b/src/k_kart.h
index 9b92fff7c..0e3aa0ff4 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.h
+++ b/src/k_kart.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ angle_t K_ReflectAngle(angle_t angle, angle_t against, fixed_t maxspeed, fixed_t
 
 void K_RegisterKartStuff(void);
 
+void K_TimerReset(void);
+void K_TimerInit(void);
 UINT16 K_GetPlayerDontDrawFlag(player_t *player);
 boolean K_IsPlayerLosing(player_t *player);
 fixed_t K_GetKartGameSpeedScalar(SINT8 value);
diff --git a/src/p_saveg.c b/src/p_saveg.c
index e24e3d2f7..6ed11bb3b 100644
--- a/src/p_saveg.c
+++ b/src/p_saveg.c
@@ -4180,6 +4180,7 @@ static void P_NetArchiveMisc(void)
 
 	WRITEUINT32(save_p, introtime);
 	WRITEUINT32(save_p, starttime);
+	WRITEUINT8(save_p, numbulbs);
 
 	// Is it paused?
 	if (paused)
@@ -4314,6 +4315,7 @@ static inline boolean P_NetUnArchiveMisc(void)
 
 	introtime = READUINT32(save_p);
 	starttime = READUINT32(save_p);
+	numbulbs = READUINT8(save_p);
 
 	// Is it paused?
 	if (READUINT8(save_p) == 0x2f)
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index ba46c60e5..ac002b0d3 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -3427,29 +3427,6 @@ static void P_InitLevelSettings(void)
 		players[i].follower = NULL;
 	}
 
-	rainbowstartavailable = false;
-
-	if (p >= 2)
-		rainbowstartavailable = true;
-
-	if (p <= 2)
-	{
-		introtime = 0; // No intro in Record Attack / 1v1
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		introtime = (108) + 5; // 108 for rotation, + 5 for white fade
-	}
-
-	numbulbs = 5;
-
-	if (p > 2)
-	{
-		numbulbs += (p-2);
-	}
-
-	starttime = (introtime + (3*TICRATE)) + ((2*TICRATE) + (numbulbs * bulbtime)); // Start countdown time, + buffer time
-
 	// SRB2Kart: map load variables
 	if (grandprixinfo.gp == true)
 	{
@@ -4149,21 +4126,6 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave)
 		lastmaploaded = gamemap; // HAS to be set after saving!!
 	}
 
-	if (!fromnetsave) // uglier hack
-	{ // to make a newly loaded level start on the second frame.
-		INT32 buf = gametic % TICQUEUE;
-		for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
-		{
-			if (playeringame[i])
-				G_CopyTiccmd(&players[i].cmd, &netcmds[buf][i], 1);
-		}
-		P_PreTicker(2);
-		LUAh_MapLoad();
-	}
-
-	// NOW you can try to spawn in the Battle capsules, if there's not enough players for a match
-	K_SpawnBattleCapsules();
-
 	if (grandprixinfo.gp == true)
 	{
 		if (grandprixinfo.initalize == true)
@@ -4183,6 +4145,20 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave)
 		K_UpdateMatchRaceBots();
 	}
 
+	if (!fromnetsave) // uglier hack
+	{ // to make a newly loaded level start on the second frame.
+		INT32 buf = gametic % TICQUEUE;
+		for (i = 0; i < MAXPLAYERS; i++)
+		{
+			if (playeringame[i])
+				G_CopyTiccmd(&players[i].cmd, &netcmds[buf][i], 1);
+		}
+		P_PreTicker(2);
+		LUAh_MapLoad();
+	}
+
+	K_TimerReset();
+
 	// No render mode, stop here.
 	if (rendermode == render_none)
 		return true;
diff --git a/src/p_tick.c b/src/p_tick.c
index 71ded772c..85ee844dd 100644
--- a/src/p_tick.c
+++ b/src/p_tick.c
@@ -705,6 +705,13 @@ void P_Ticker(boolean run)
 	if (demo.playback)
 		G_StoreRewindInfo();
 
+	if (leveltime == 2)
+	{
+		// The values needed to set this properly are not correct at map load,
+		// so we have to do it at the second tick instead...
+		K_TimerInit();
+	}
+
 //	Z_CheckMemCleanup();
 }