diff --git a/src/game/save_file.c b/src/game/save_file.c
index ad700a18..fea9b514 100644
--- a/src/game/save_file.c
+++ b/src/game/save_file.c
@@ -702,6 +702,9 @@ void eu_set_language(u16 language) {
 }
 
 u16 eu_get_language(void) {
+    // check if the language is in range, in case we loaded a US save with garbage padding or something
+    if (gSaveBuffer.menuData[0].language >= LANGUAGE_MAX)
+        eu_set_language(LANGUAGE_ENGLISH); // reset it to english if not
     return gSaveBuffer.menuData[0].language;
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/game/save_file.h b/src/game/save_file.h
index 3ee5a19a..c292a156 100644
--- a/src/game/save_file.h
+++ b/src/game/save_file.h
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@ s32 check_warp_checkpoint(struct WarpNode *warpNode);
 enum EuLanguages {
     LANGUAGE_ENGLISH,
     LANGUAGE_FRENCH,
-    LANGUAGE_GERMAN
+    LANGUAGE_GERMAN,
+    LANGUAGE_MAX
 };
 
 void eu_set_language(u16 language);