diff --git a/Source/p_spec.c b/Source/p_spec.c
index b961929a..42ac408f 100644
--- a/Source/p_spec.c
+++ b/Source/p_spec.c
@@ -495,6 +495,7 @@ fixed_t P_FindShortestTextureAround(int secnum)
 {
   const sector_t *sec = &sectors[secnum];
   int i, minsize = D_MAXINT;
+  int mintex = (demo_version < 203) ? 1 : 0; //jff 8/14/98 texture 0 is a placeholder
 
   if (!comp[comp_model])
     minsize = 32000<<FRACBITS; //jff 3/13/98 prevent overflow in height calcs
@@ -503,10 +504,10 @@ fixed_t P_FindShortestTextureAround(int secnum)
     if (twoSided(secnum, i))
       {
         const side_t *side;
-        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,0))->bottomtexture >= 0 &&
+        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,0))->bottomtexture >= mintex &&
             textureheight[side->bottomtexture] < minsize)
           minsize = textureheight[side->bottomtexture];
-        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,1))->bottomtexture >= 0 &&
+        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,1))->bottomtexture >= mintex &&
             textureheight[side->bottomtexture] < minsize)
           minsize = textureheight[side->bottomtexture];
       }
@@ -531,6 +532,7 @@ fixed_t P_FindShortestUpperAround(int secnum)
 {
   const sector_t *sec = &sectors[secnum];
   int i, minsize = D_MAXINT;
+  int mintex = (demo_version < 203) ? 1 : 0; //jff 8/14/98 texture 0 is a placeholder
 
   if (!comp[comp_model])
     minsize = 32000<<FRACBITS; //jff 3/13/98 prevent overflow
@@ -540,10 +542,10 @@ fixed_t P_FindShortestUpperAround(int secnum)
     if (twoSided(secnum, i))
       {
         const side_t *side;
-        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,0))->toptexture >= 0)
+        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,0))->toptexture >= mintex)
           if (textureheight[side->toptexture] < minsize)
             minsize = textureheight[side->toptexture];
-        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,1))->toptexture >= 0)
+        if ((side = getSide(secnum,i,1))->toptexture >= mintex)
           if (textureheight[side->toptexture] < minsize)
             minsize = textureheight[side->toptexture];
       }