diff --git a/src/town_cmd.cpp b/src/town_cmd.cpp
--- a/src/town_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/town_cmd.cpp
@@ -1880,6 +1880,7 @@ bool GenerateTowns(TownLayout layout)
 	uint current_number = 0;
 	uint difficulty = (_game_mode != GM_EDITOR) ? _settings_game.difficulty.number_towns : 0;
 	uint total = (difficulty == (uint)CUSTOM_TOWN_NUMBER_DIFFICULTY) ? _settings_game.game_creation.custom_town_number : ScaleByMapSize(_num_initial_towns[difficulty] + (Random() & 7));
+	total = min(TownPool::MAX_SIZE, total);
 	uint32 townnameparts;
 
 	SetGeneratingWorldProgress(GWP_TOWN, total);