diff --git a/src/game/behaviors/bowser.inc.c b/src/game/behaviors/bowser.inc.c
index 64b4e70b..d6393ba3 100644
--- a/src/game/behaviors/bowser.inc.c
+++ b/src/game/behaviors/bowser.inc.c
@@ -1246,9 +1246,11 @@ void bhv_bowser_loop(void) {
     int angleToPlayer = obj_angle_to_object(o, player);
 
     // look for animation difference and override
-    struct Animation* anim = o->oAnimations[networkBowserAnimationIndex];
-    if (anim != NULL &&o->header.gfx.unk38.curAnim != anim) {
-        geo_obj_init_animation(&o->header.gfx, &anim);
+    if (o->oAnimations != NULL && networkBowserAnimationIndex <= 26) {
+        struct Animation* anim = o->oAnimations[networkBowserAnimationIndex];
+        if (anim != NULL && o->header.gfx.unk38.curAnim != anim) {
+            geo_obj_init_animation(&o->header.gfx, &anim);
+        }
     }
 
     s16 angleToMario;  // AngleToMario    from Bowser's perspective