diff --git a/src/faction.c b/src/faction.c
index 165259d..a9de2e7 100644
--- a/src/faction.c
+++ b/src/faction.c
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ int pfaction_save(xmlTextWriterPtr writer) {
 int pfaction_load(xmlNodePtr parent) {
   xmlNodePtr node, cur;
   char* str;
+  int faction;
 
   node = parent->xmlChildrenNode;
 
@@ -470,7 +471,9 @@ int pfaction_load(xmlNodePtr parent) {
       do {
           if(xml_isNode(cur, "factions")) {
             xmlr_attr(cur, "name", str);
-            faction_stack[faction_get(str)].player = xml_getInt(cur);
+            faction = faction_get(str);
+            if(faction != -1) /* Faction is valid. */
+              faction_stack[faction].player = xml_getInt(cur);
             free(str);
           }
       } while(xml_nextNode(cur));