diff --git a/Subsurface/Source/Networking/ChatMessage.cs b/Subsurface/Source/Networking/ChatMessage.cs
index 545ed21c9..47a155e0b 100644
--- a/Subsurface/Source/Networking/ChatMessage.cs
+++ b/Subsurface/Source/Networking/ChatMessage.cs
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ namespace Barotrauma.Networking
             msg.Write((byte)Type);
             msg.Write(Text);
 
-            msg.Write(Sender != null);
-            if (Sender != null)
+            msg.Write(Sender != null && c.inGame);
+            if (Sender != null && c.inGame)
             {
                 msg.Write(Sender.ID);
             }