diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/net/NetworkIO.java b/core/src/mindustry/net/NetworkIO.java
index 68df216c74..5b13558d13 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/net/NetworkIO.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/net/NetworkIO.java
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ public class NetworkIO{
         int version = buffer.getInt();
         String vertype = readString(buffer);
 
-        Gamemode gamemode = Gamemode.all[buffer.get()];
+        byte mode = buffer.get();
+        Gamemode gamemode = Gamemode.all[mode < Gamemode.all.length ? mode : 0];
         int limit = buffer.getInt();
 
         String description = readString(buffer);