diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index e223435dd..947de0e4d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -2223,7 +2223,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                                    const Ogre::Vector3& worldPos, const Ogre::Quaternion& orient, MWWorld::Ptr bow, float speed)
     {
         ProjectileState state;
-        state.mActorHandle = actor.getRefData().getHandle();
+        state.mActorId = actor.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor).getActorId();
         state.mBow = bow;
         state.mVelocity = orient.yAxis() * speed;
 
@@ -2310,7 +2310,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
         MagicBoltState state;
         state.mSourceName = sourceName;
         state.mId = id;
-        state.mActorHandle = actor.getRefData().getHandle();
+        state.mActorId = actor.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor).getActorId();
         state.mSpeed = speed;
         state.mStack = stack;
 
@@ -2374,7 +2374,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 if (obstacle == ptr)
                     continue;
 
-                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaHandle(it->second.mActorHandle);
+                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaActorId(it->second.mActorId);
 
                 // Arrow intersects with player immediately after shooting :/
                 if (obstacle == caster)
@@ -2460,7 +2460,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 if (obstacle == ptr)
                     continue;
 
-                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaHandle(it->second.mActorHandle);
+                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaActorId(it->second.mActorId);
                 if (caster.isEmpty())
                     caster = obstacle;
 
@@ -2483,7 +2483,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             if (explode)
             {
-                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaHandle(it->second.mActorHandle);
+                MWWorld::Ptr caster = searchPtrViaActorId(it->second.mActorId);
                 explodeSpell(Ogre::Vector3(ptr.getRefData().getPosition().pos), ptr, it->second.mEffects, caster, it->second.mId, it->second.mSourceName);
 
                 deleteObject(ptr);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 2328e67a8..953045fa2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
                 std::string mId;
 
                 // Actor who casted this projectile
-                std::string mActorHandle;
+                int mActorId;
 
                 // Name of item to display as effect source in magic menu (in case we casted an enchantment)
                 std::string mSourceName;
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             struct ProjectileState
             {
                 // Actor who shot this projectile
-                std::string mActorHandle;
+                int mActorId;
 
                 MWWorld::Ptr mBow; // bow or crossbow the projectile was fired from