diff --git a/src/game/area.c b/src/game/area.c
index f8979d85..e63135b1 100644
--- a/src/game/area.c
+++ b/src/game/area.c
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ void print_intro_text(void) {
 
 u32 get_mario_spawn_type(struct Object *o) {
     if (o == NULL) { return 0; }
-    
+
     const BehaviorScript *behavior = virtual_to_segmented(0x13, o->behavior);
 
     for (s32 i = 0; i < 20; i++) {
diff --git a/src/pc/lua/utils/smlua_obj_utils.c b/src/pc/lua/utils/smlua_obj_utils.c
index 9bca2af9..73efa8d4 100644
--- a/src/pc/lua/utils/smlua_obj_utils.c
+++ b/src/pc/lua/utils/smlua_obj_utils.c
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 #include "pc/debuglog.h"
 
 static struct Object* spawn_object_internal(enum BehaviorId behaviorId, enum ModelExtendedId modelId, f32 x, f32 y, f32 z, LuaFunction objSetupFunction, bool doSync) {
+    // prevent spawning objects before area is synchronized
+    if (gNetworkPlayerLocal == NULL || !gNetworkPlayerLocal->currAreaSyncValid) { return NULL; }
+
     const BehaviorScript* behavior = get_behavior_from_id(behaviorId);
     if (behavior == NULL) {
         LOG_ERROR("failed to find behavior %u", behaviorId);