diff --git a/port/include/net/net.h b/port/include/net/net.h
index e21f3b485..433f66045 100644
--- a/port/include/net/net.h
+++ b/port/include/net/net.h
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ struct netclient {
 		char name[NET_MAX_NAME];
 		u8 headnum;
 		u8 bodynum;
+		u8 team;
 	} settings;
 
 	struct mpplayerconfig *config;
diff --git a/port/src/net/net.c b/port/src/net/net.c
index 84a1a71f0..fa172643c 100644
--- a/port/src/net/net.c
+++ b/port/src/net/net.c
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ static inline void netClientReset(struct netclient *cl)
 	cl->out.data = cl->out_data;
 	cl->out.size = sizeof(cl->out_data);
 	cl->id = cl - g_NetClients;
+	cl->settings.team = 0xff;
 }
 
 static inline void netClientResetAll(void)
diff --git a/port/src/net/netmsg.c b/port/src/net/netmsg.c
index df5ebe057..65a9e4b68 100644
--- a/port/src/net/netmsg.c
+++ b/port/src/net/netmsg.c
@@ -377,7 +377,9 @@ u32 netmsgSvcStageStartWrite(struct netbuf *dst)
 	for (s32 i = 0; i < g_NetMaxClients; ++i) {
 		struct netclient *ncl = &g_NetClients[i];
 		if (ncl->state) {
+			ncl->settings.team = g_PlayerConfigsArray[ncl->id].base.team;
 			netbufWriteU8(dst, ncl->id);
+			netbufWriteU8(dst, ncl->settings.team);
 			netbufWriteU8(dst, ncl->settings.bodynum);
 			netbufWriteU8(dst, ncl->settings.headnum);
 			netbufWriteStr(dst, ncl->settings.name);
@@ -438,6 +440,7 @@ u32 netmsgSvcStageStartRead(struct netbuf *src, struct netclient *srccl)
 	for (u8 i = 0; i < numplayers; ++i) {
 		const u8 id = netbufReadU8(src);
 		struct netclient *ncl = &g_NetClients[id];
+		ncl->settings.team = netbufReadU8(src);
 		if (ncl != g_NetLocalClient) {
 			ncl->id = id;
 			ncl->settings.bodynum = netbufReadU8(src);
@@ -449,11 +452,19 @@ u32 netmsgSvcStageStartRead(struct netbuf *src, struct netclient *srccl)
 				sysLogPrintf(LOG_WARNING, "NET: malformed SVC_STAGE from server");
 				return 3;
 			}
+			// if this is the server player, set team on server's player config
+			if (ncl->id == 0) {
+				g_PlayerConfigsArray[g_NetLocalClient->id].base.team = ncl->settings.team;
+			} else {
+				g_PlayerConfigsArray[ncl->id].base.team = ncl->settings.team;
+			}
 		} else {
-			// skip our own settings
+			// skip our own settings except for the team
 			netbufReadU8(src);
 			netbufReadU8(src);
 			netbufReadStr(src);
+			// set team on the player 0 config
+			g_PlayerConfigsArray[0].base.team = ncl->settings.team;
 		}
 		ncl->state = CLSTATE_GAME;
 		ncl->player = NULL;
diff --git a/src/game/mplayer/mplayer.c b/src/game/mplayer/mplayer.c
index f20f53c7d..3cbe35352 100644
--- a/src/game/mplayer/mplayer.c
+++ b/src/game/mplayer/mplayer.c
@@ -2996,6 +2996,13 @@ struct mpchrconfig *mpGetChrConfigBySlotNum(s32 slot)
 		}
 	}
 
+#ifndef PLATFORM_N64
+	// ignore chrslots while setting up a netgame
+	if (!result && g_NetMode && slot < g_NetMaxClients && g_NetClients[slot].state >= CLSTATE_LOBBY) {
+		result = &g_PlayerConfigsArray[slot].base;
+	}
+#endif
+
 	return result;
 }