diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8ceffc8f1d..53b8284f1b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@
     Bug #5211: Screen fades in if the first loaded save is in interior cell
     Bug #5213: SameFaction script function is broken
     Bug #5218: Crash when disabling ToggleBorders
+    Bug #5220: GetLOS crashes when actor isn't loaded
     Feature #1774: Handle AvoidNode
     Feature #2229: Improve pathfinding AI
     Feature #3025: Analogue gamepad movement controls
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
index 0bb94a1342..23ebfcb839 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/aiextensions.cpp
@@ -382,9 +382,11 @@ namespace MWScript
                     std::string actorID = runtime.getStringLiteral (runtime[0].mInteger);
                     runtime.pop();
 
-                    MWWorld::Ptr actor = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(actorID, true);
+                    MWWorld::Ptr actor = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(actorID, true, false);
 
-                    Interpreter::Type_Integer value = MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->isActorDetected(actor, observer);
+                    Interpreter::Type_Integer value = 0;
+                    if (!actor.isEmpty())
+                        value = MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->isActorDetected(actor, observer);
 
                     runtime.push (value);
                 }
@@ -404,9 +406,9 @@ namespace MWScript
                     runtime.pop();
 
 
-                    MWWorld::Ptr dest = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(actorID,true);
+                    MWWorld::Ptr dest = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(actorID, true, false);
                     bool value = false;
-                    if(dest != MWWorld::Ptr() && source.getClass().isActor() && dest.getClass().isActor())
+                    if (!dest.isEmpty() && source.getClass().isActor() && dest.getClass().isActor())
                     {
                         value = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getLOS(source,dest);
                     }
@@ -447,8 +449,9 @@ namespace MWScript
                     std::string targetID = runtime.getStringLiteral (runtime[0].mInteger);
                     runtime.pop();
 
-                    MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr(targetID, true);
-                    MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(actor, target);
+                    MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(targetID, true, false);
+                    if (!target.isEmpty())
+                        MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->startCombat(actor, target);
                 }
         };
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
index bc6f9ea8e7..d40ad769d6 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
@@ -1129,7 +1129,9 @@ namespace MWScript
                     return;
                 }
 
-                MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr (targetId, false);
+                MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->searchPtr(targetId, false, false);
+                if (target.isEmpty())
+                    return;
 
                 MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(ptr, target, false, true);
                 cast.playSpellCastingEffects(spell->mId, false);