diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index baa2470da..0cb7619db 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -1768,8 +1768,9 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             {
                 std::string id = reader.getHString();
                 int count;
-                reader.getHNT (count, "COUN");
-                mDeathCount[id] = count;
+                reader.getHNT(count, "COUN");
+                if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore().find(id))
+                    mDeathCount[id] = count;
             }
         }
     }