diff --git a/src/libtrx/game/game_string_table/common.c b/src/libtrx/game/game_string_table/common.c
index 9e40ae432..f44260c6c 100644
--- a/src/libtrx/game/game_string_table/common.c
+++ b/src/libtrx/game/game_string_table/common.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static void M_ApplyLayer(
         }
         }
 
-        if (gs_level_table != nullptr) {
+        if (gs_level_table != nullptr && gs_level_table->count != 0) {
             ASSERT(level->num >= 0);
             ASSERT(level->num < gs_level_table->count);
             M_Apply(&gs_level_table->entries[level->num].table);