diff --git a/src/g_game.c b/src/g_game.c
index 629466f26..d0b2b1066 100644
--- a/src/g_game.c
+++ b/src/g_game.c
@@ -4172,6 +4172,8 @@ static void G_GetNextMap(void)
 	if (!spec)
 #endif //#if 0
 		lastmap = nextmap;
+
+	deferencoremode = (cv_kartencore.value == 1);
 }
 
 //
@@ -4343,7 +4345,6 @@ void G_NextLevel(void)
 	}
 
 	forceresetplayers = false;
-	deferencoremode = (cv_kartencore.value == 1);
 
 	gameaction = ga_worlddone;
 }
diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 9122e5bf2..d90e4e98c 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ void K_RegisterKartStuff(void)
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_gptest);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_capsuletest);
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_battletest);
+	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_debugencorevote);
 
 	CV_RegisterVar(&cv_reducevfx);
 }
diff --git a/src/k_pwrlv.c b/src/k_pwrlv.c
index aa98cbcc3..0f234a504 100644
--- a/src/k_pwrlv.c
+++ b/src/k_pwrlv.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ UINT8 spectateGriefed = 0;
 SINT8 speedscramble = -1;
 SINT8 encorescramble = -1;
 
+consvar_t cv_debugencorevote = CVAR_INIT ("debugencorevote", "Off", CV_CHEAT|CV_NETVAR, CV_OnOff, NULL);
+
 SINT8 K_UsingPowerLevels(void)
 {
 	SINT8 pt = PWRLV_DISABLED;
@@ -548,7 +550,9 @@ void K_SetPowerLevelScrambles(SINT8 powertype)
 				else
 					speedscramble = -1;
 
-				if (cv_kartencore.value == -1)
+				if (cv_debugencorevote.value)
+					encorescramble = 1;
+				else if (cv_kartencore.value == -1)
 					encorescramble = (encore ? 1 : 0);
 				else
 					encorescramble = -1;
diff --git a/src/k_pwrlv.h b/src/k_pwrlv.h
index 17822a661..9469fe3b7 100644
--- a/src/k_pwrlv.h
+++ b/src/k_pwrlv.h
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "doomtype.h"
 #include "doomdef.h"
 #include "d_player.h"
+#include "command.h"
 
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 extern "C" {
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ typedef enum
 extern SINT8 speedscramble;
 extern SINT8 encorescramble;
 
+extern consvar_t cv_debugencorevote;
+
 extern UINT16 clientpowerlevels[MAXPLAYERS][PWRLV_NUMTYPES];
 extern INT16 clientPowerAdd[MAXPLAYERS];
 extern UINT8 spectateGriefed;
diff --git a/src/p_setup.c b/src/p_setup.c
index 7d4e70508..d0e5b52ed 100644
--- a/src/p_setup.c
+++ b/src/p_setup.c
@@ -7877,6 +7877,13 @@ boolean P_LoadLevel(boolean fromnetsave, boolean reloadinggamestate)
 
 	if (encoreLump)
 	{
+		if (encoreLump->size != 256)
+		{
+			I_Error("%s: %s lump is not 256 bytes (actual size %s bytes)\n"
+					"Make sure the lump is in DOOM Flat or SRB2 Encore format and 16x16",
+					maplumpname, encoreLump->name, sizeu1(encoreLump->size));
+		}
+
 		R_ReInitColormaps(mapheaderinfo[gamemap-1]->palette, encoreLump->data, encoreLump->size);
 	}
 	else
diff --git a/src/r_data.c b/src/r_data.c
index 6f01510a2..a0a0dea20 100644
--- a/src/r_data.c
+++ b/src/r_data.c
@@ -314,6 +314,8 @@ void R_ReInitColormaps(UINT16 num, void *newencoremap, size_t encoremapsize)
 		lighttable_t *colormap_p, *colormap_p2;
 		size_t p, i;
 
+		I_Assert(encoremapsize == 256);
+
 		encoremap = Z_MallocAlign(256 + 10, PU_LEVEL, NULL, 8);
 		M_Memcpy(encoremap, newencoremap, encoremapsize);
 		colormap_p = colormap_p2 = colormaps;