diff --git a/src/player_base.h b/src/player_base.h
--- a/src/player_base.h
+++ b/src/player_base.h
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ struct PlayerEconomyEntry {
 	Money company_value;
 };
 
-DECLARE_OLD_POOL(Player, Player, 1, MAX_PLAYERS)
+/* The third parameter and the number after >> MUST be the same,
+ * otherwise more (or less) players will be allowed to be
+ * created than what MAX_PLAYER specifies!
+ */
+DECLARE_OLD_POOL(Player, Player, 1, MAX_PLAYERS >> 1)
 
 struct Player : PoolItem<Player, PlayerByte, &_Player_pool> {
 	Player(uint16 name_1 = 0, bool is_ai = false);
diff --git a/src/players.cpp b/src/players.cpp
--- a/src/players.cpp
+++ b/src/players.cpp
@@ -516,9 +516,9 @@ void ResetPlayerLivery(Player *p)
  */
 Player *DoStartupNewPlayer(bool is_ai)
 {
-	Player *p = new Player(STR_SV_UNNAMED, is_ai);
+	if (!Player::CanAllocateItem()) return NULL;
 
-	if (p == NULL) return NULL;
+	Player *p = new Player(STR_SV_UNNAMED, is_ai);
 
 	memset(&_players_ai[p->index], 0, sizeof(PlayerAI));
 	memset(&_players_ainew[p->index], 0, sizeof(PlayerAiNew));