diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index d54805539..a3211892e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                     && MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getLOS(ptr, player)
                     && MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->awarenessCheck(player, ptr))
                 {
-                    creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiPursue(player.getClass().getId(player)), ptr);
+                    creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiPursue(player), ptr);
                     creatureStats.setAlarmed(true);
                     npcStats.setCrimeId(MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayer().getNewCrimeId());
                 }
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 else if (!creatureStats.isHostile() && creatureStats.getAiSequence().getTypeId() != AiPackage::TypeIdPursue)
                 {
                     if (ptr.getClass().isClass(ptr, "Guard"))
-                        creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiPursue(player.getClass().getId(player)), ptr);
+                        creatureStats.getAiSequence().stack(AiPursue(player), ptr);
                     else
                     {
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(ptr, player);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.cpp
index 6e91ccb71..aa71af465 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.cpp
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
 #include "../mwworld/action.hpp"
 #include "../mwworld/cellstore.hpp"
 
+#include "../mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp"
+
 #include "steering.hpp"
 #include "movement.hpp"
 #include "creaturestats.hpp"
 
-MWMechanics::AiPursue::AiPursue(const std::string &objectId)
-    : mObjectId(objectId)
+MWMechanics::AiPursue::AiPursue(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor)
+    : mActorId(actor.getClass().getCreatureStats(actor).getActorId())
 {
 }
 MWMechanics::AiPursue *MWMechanics::AiPursue::clone() const
@@ -23,7 +25,7 @@ bool MWMechanics::AiPursue::execute (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, float duration)
 {
 
     ESM::Position pos = actor.getRefData().getPosition(); //position of the actor
-    const MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(mObjectId, false); //The target to follow
+    const MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtrViaActorId(mActorId); //The target to follow
 
     if(target == MWWorld::Ptr())
         return true;   //Target doesn't exist
@@ -33,8 +35,7 @@ bool MWMechanics::AiPursue::execute (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, float duration)
 
     if(distance(dest, pos.pos[0], pos.pos[1], pos.pos[2]) < 100) { //Stop when you get close
         actor.getClass().getMovementSettings(actor).mPosition[1] = 0;
-        MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(mObjectId,false);
-        MWWorld::Class::get(target).activate(target,actor).get()->execute(actor); //Arrest player
+        target.getClass().activate(target,actor).get()->execute(actor); //Arrest player
         return true;
     }
     else {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.hpp
index 2eb533d62..90ff8df93 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aipursue.hpp
@@ -16,14 +16,14 @@ namespace MWMechanics
     {
         public:
             ///Constructor
-            /** \param objectId Actor to pursue **/
-            AiPursue(const std::string &objectId);
+            /** \param actor Actor to pursue **/
+            AiPursue(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor);
             virtual AiPursue *clone() const;
             virtual bool execute (const MWWorld::Ptr& actor,float duration);
             virtual int getTypeId() const;
 
         private:
-            std::string mObjectId;
+            int mActorId; // The actor to pursue
             int mCellX;
             int mCellY;
     };