diff --git a/src/pc/network/network_player.c b/src/pc/network/network_player.c
index 22e2143c0..703574cdd 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/network_player.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/network_player.c
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ struct NetworkPlayer* gNetworkPlayerServer = NULL;
 static char sDefaultPlayerName[] = "Player";
 
 void network_player_init(void) {
-    gNetworkPlayers[0].modelIndex = configPlayerModel;
+    gNetworkPlayers[0].modelIndex = (configPlayerModel < CT_MAX) ? configPlayerModel : 0;
     gNetworkPlayers[0].paletteIndex = configPlayerPalette;
 }
 
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ u8 network_player_connected(enum NetworkPlayerType type, u8 globalIndex, u8 mode
     if (name[0] == '\0') {
         name = sDefaultPlayerName;
     }
+    if (modelIndex >= CT_MAX) { modelIndex = 0; }
 
     if (type == NPT_LOCAL) {
         struct NetworkPlayer* np = &gNetworkPlayers[0];
diff --git a/src/pc/network/packets/packet_network_players.c b/src/pc/network/packets/packet_network_players.c
index 73adc0f84..f71578b0e 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/packets/packet_network_players.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/packets/packet_network_players.c
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void network_receive_network_players(struct Packet* p) {
                     gNetworkSystem->save_id(localIndex, networkId);
                 }
             } else {
-                np->modelIndex = modelIndex;
+                np->modelIndex = (modelIndex < CT_MAX) ? modelIndex : 0;
                 np->paletteIndex = paletteIndex;
                 network_player_update_model(localIndex);
             }