diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.cpp
index e230998eb..e3ce4ae2a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "aiwander.hpp"
 
 #include <cfloat>
+#include <iostream>
 
 #include <components/misc/rng.hpp>
 
@@ -621,12 +622,17 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         actor.getClass().getMovementSettings(actor).mPosition[1] = 0;
     }
 
-    void AiWander::playIdle(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, unsigned short idleSelect)
+    bool AiWander::playIdle(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, unsigned short idleSelect)
     {
         if ((GroupIndex_MinIdle <= idleSelect) && (idleSelect <= GroupIndex_MaxIdle))
         {
             const std::string& groupName = sIdleSelectToGroupName[idleSelect - GroupIndex_MinIdle];
-            MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->playAnimationGroup(actor, groupName, 0, 1);
+            return MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->playAnimationGroup(actor, groupName, 0, 1);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            std::cerr<< "Attempted to play out of range idle animation \""<<idleSelect<<"\" for " << actor.getCellRef().getRefId() << std::endl;
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.hpp
index 8a489c783..c03cdfaa2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/aiwander.hpp
@@ -75,7 +75,10 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             void init();
             
             void stopWalking(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, AiWanderStorage& storage);
-            void playIdle(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, unsigned short idleSelect);
+
+            ///Have the given actor play an idle animation
+            ///@return Success or error
+            bool playIdle(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, unsigned short idleSelect);
             bool checkIdle(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, unsigned short idleSelect);
             short unsigned getRandomIdle();
             void setPathToAnAllowedNode(const MWWorld::Ptr& actor, AiWanderStorage& storage, const ESM::Position& actorPos);