diff --git a/src/lua/LegacyLuaAPI.cpp b/src/lua/LegacyLuaAPI.cpp
index e8b31123e..ced95074d 100644
--- a/src/lua/LegacyLuaAPI.cpp
+++ b/src/lua/LegacyLuaAPI.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ int luacon_partread(lua_State* l)
 
 	if (i < 0 || i >= NPART)
 		return luaL_error(l, "Out of range");
+	if (!luacon_sim->parts[i].type)
+		return luaL_error(l, "dead particle");
 	if (offset == -1)
 	{
 		if (!key.compare("id"))
@@ -68,6 +70,8 @@ int luacon_partwrite(lua_State* l)
 
 	if (i < 0 || i >= NPART)
 		return luaL_error(l, "Out of range");
+	if (!luacon_sim->parts[i].type)
+		return luaL_error(l, "dead particle");
 	if (offset == -1)
 		return luaL_error(l, "Invalid property");
 
@@ -95,6 +99,11 @@ int luacon_partsread(lua_State* l)
 	{
 		return luaL_error(l, "array index out of bounds");
 	}
+	
+	if (!luacon_sim->parts[i].type)
+	{
+		return luaL_error(l, "dead particle");
+	}
 
 	lua_rawgeti(l, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, tptPart);
 	cIndex = i;