diff --git a/src/engine/behavior_script.c b/src/engine/behavior_script.c
index faefd977..259e5105 100644
--- a/src/engine/behavior_script.c
+++ b/src/engine/behavior_script.c
@@ -1287,7 +1287,7 @@ void cur_obj_update(void) {
     }
 
     // handle network area timer
-    if (gCurrentObject->areaTimerType != AREA_TIMER_TYPE_NONE) {
+    if (gCurrentObject->areaTimerType != AREA_TIMER_TYPE_NONE && !(gMenuMode != -1 && network_player_connected_count() == 1 && gActiveMods.entryCount == 0)) {
         // make sure the area is valid
         if (gNetworkPlayerLocal == NULL || !gNetworkPlayerLocal->currAreaSyncValid) {
             goto cur_obj_update_end;
@@ -1437,7 +1437,7 @@ cur_obj_update_begin:;
     }
 
     // update network area timer
-    if (gCurrentObject->areaTimerType != AREA_TIMER_TYPE_NONE) {
+    if (gCurrentObject->areaTimerType != AREA_TIMER_TYPE_NONE && !(gMenuMode != -1 && network_player_connected_count() == 1 && gActiveMods.entryCount == 0)) {
         gCurrentObject->areaTimer++;
         if (gCurrentObject->areaTimer < gNetworkAreaTimer) {
             goto cur_obj_update_begin;
diff --git a/src/game/level_update.c b/src/game/level_update.c
index 52137833..40353cff 100644
--- a/src/game/level_update.c
+++ b/src/game/level_update.c
@@ -1667,7 +1667,10 @@ s32 update_level(void) {
             changeLevel = play_mode_normal();
             break;
         case PLAY_MODE_PAUSED:
-            changeLevel = play_mode_normal();
+            if (!(network_player_connected_count() == 1 && gActiveMods.entryCount == 0)) {
+                changeLevel = play_mode_normal();
+            }
+
             changeLevel = play_mode_paused();
             break;
         case PLAY_MODE_CHANGE_AREA:
diff --git a/src/pc/network/network.c b/src/pc/network/network.c
index ae6cdcfc..d5c748ae 100644
--- a/src/pc/network/network.c
+++ b/src/pc/network/network.c
@@ -502,6 +502,7 @@ static void network_rehost_update(void) {
     djui_panel_do_host(true);
 }
 
+extern s16 gMenuMode;
 static void network_update_area_timer(void) {
     bool brokenClock = false;
 #ifdef DEVELOPMENT
@@ -522,6 +523,9 @@ static void network_update_area_timer(void) {
     //brokenClock = (skipClockCount > 0);
 #endif
     if (!brokenClock) {
+        if (gMenuMode != -1 && network_player_connected_count() == 1 && gActiveMods.entryCount == 0) {
+            gNetworkAreaTimerClock++;
+        }
         // update network area timer
         u32 desiredNAT = gNetworkAreaTimer + 1;
         gNetworkAreaTimer = (clock_elapsed_ticks() - gNetworkAreaTimerClock);