diff --git a/src/game/hud.c b/src/game/hud.c
index b4242f4f..6ab372d4 100644
--- a/src/game/hud.c
+++ b/src/game/hud.c
@@ -299,7 +299,15 @@ void render_hud_mario_lives(void) {
     char* displayHead = (gNetworkType == NT_SERVER) ? "," : ".";
 #endif
     print_text(GFX_DIMENSIONS_RECT_FROM_LEFT_EDGE(22), HUD_TOP_Y, displayHead); // 'Mario Head' glyph
-    if (gHudDisplay.lives == -1) { return; }
+    if (gHudDisplay.lives == -1) {
+        gSPDisplayList(gDisplayListHead++, dl_ia_text_begin);
+        u8 a = ((gGlobalTimer % 24) >= 12) ? 200 : 170;
+        gDPSetEnvColor(gDisplayListHead++, 0, 0, 0, a);
+        print_generic_ascii_string(100, 10, "no lives remaining");
+        gSPDisplayList(gDisplayListHead++, dl_ia_text_end);
+
+        return;
+    }
     print_text(GFX_DIMENSIONS_RECT_FROM_LEFT_EDGE(38), HUD_TOP_Y, "*"); // 'X' glyph
     print_text_fmt_int(GFX_DIMENSIONS_RECT_FROM_LEFT_EDGE(54), HUD_TOP_Y, "%d", gHudDisplay.lives);
 }