diff --git a/players.c b/players.c
--- a/players.c
+++ b/players.c
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ Player *DoStartupNewPlayer(bool is_ai)
 
 	p->is_ai = is_ai;
 	p->ai.state = 5; /* AIS_WANT_NEW_ROUTE */
-	p->share_owners[0] = p->share_owners[1] = p->share_owners[2] = p->share_owners[3] = 0xFF;
+	p->share_owners[0] = p->share_owners[1] = p->share_owners[2] = p->share_owners[3] = OWNER_SPECTATOR;
 
 	p->avail_railtypes = GetPlayerRailtypes(p->index);
 	p->inaugurated_year = _cur_year;