diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 3a59aca8e..205adc1dc 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
     Bug #1990: Sunrise/sunset not set correct
     Bug #2222: Fatigue's effect on selling price is backwards
     Bug #2326: After a bound item expires the last equipped item of that type is not automatically re-equipped
+    Bug #2772: Non-existing class or faction freezes the game
     Bug #2835: Player able to slowly move when overencumbered
     Bug #2971: Compiler did not reject lines with naked expressions beginning with x.y
     Bug #3374: Touch spells not hitting kwama foragers
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
index 2fe9ebcad..ac5608b8e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ void ESMStore::load(ESM::ESMReader &esm, Loading::Listener* listener)
     }
 }
 
-void ESMStore::setUp()
+void ESMStore::setUp(bool validateRecords)
 {
     mIds.clear();
 
@@ -142,6 +142,62 @@ void ESMStore::setUp()
     mAttributes.setUp();
     mDialogs.setUp();
     mStatics.setUp();
+
+    if (validateRecords)
+        validate();
+}
+
+void ESMStore::validate()
+{
+    // Cache first class from store - we will use it if current class is not found
+    std::string defaultCls = "";
+    Store<ESM::Class>::iterator it = mClasses.begin();
+    if (it != mClasses.end())
+        defaultCls = it->mId;
+    else
+        throw std::runtime_error("List of NPC classes is empty!");
+
+    // Validate NPCs for non-existing class and faction.
+    // We will replace invalid entries by fixed ones
+    std::vector<ESM::NPC> entitiesToReplace;
+    for (ESM::NPC npc : mNpcs)
+    {
+        bool changed = false;
+
+        const std::string npcFaction = npc.mFaction;
+        if (!npcFaction.empty())
+        {
+            const ESM::Faction *fact = mFactions.search(npcFaction);
+            if (!fact)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "NPC '" << npc.mId << "' (" << npc.mName << ") has nonexistent faction '" << npc.mFaction << "', ignoring it." << std::endl;
+                npc.mFaction = "";
+                npc.mNpdt.mRank = -1;
+                changed = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        std::string npcClass = npc.mClass;
+        if (!npcClass.empty())
+        {
+            const ESM::Class *cls = mClasses.search(npcClass);
+            if (!cls)
+            {
+                std::cerr << "NPC '" << npc.mId << "' (" << npc.mName << ") has nonexistent class '" << npc.mClass << "', using '" << defaultCls << "' class as replacement." << std::endl;
+                npc.mClass = defaultCls;
+                changed = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (changed)
+            entitiesToReplace.push_back(npc);
+    }
+
+    for (const ESM::NPC &npc : entitiesToReplace)
+    {
+        mNpcs.eraseStatic(npc.mId);
+        mNpcs.insertStatic(npc);
+    }
 }
 
     int ESMStore::countSavedGameRecords() const
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.hpp
index a14f6368e..f4d792118 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.hpp
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         unsigned int mDynamicCount;
 
+        /// Validate entries in store after setup
+        void validate();
+
     public:
         /// \todo replace with SharedIterator<StoreBase>
         typedef std::map<int, StoreBase *>::const_iterator iterator;
@@ -228,7 +231,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         // This method must be called once, after loading all master/plugin files. This can only be done
         //  from the outside, so it must be public.
-        void setUp();
+        void setUp(bool validateRecords = false);
 
         int countSavedGameRecords() const;
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index 000bdfa1a..3d7ecb0e3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
         fillGlobalVariables();
 
-        mStore.setUp();
+        mStore.setUp(true);
         mStore.movePlayerRecord();
 
         mSwimHeightScale = mStore.get<ESM::GameSetting>().find("fSwimHeightScale")->getFloat();