diff --git a/lib/netplay/netplay.cpp b/lib/netplay/netplay.cpp
index d9092d4f50a..f14fb719a99 100644
--- a/lib/netplay/netplay.cpp
+++ b/lib/netplay/netplay.cpp
@@ -864,6 +864,13 @@ static void NET_DestroyPlayer(unsigned int index, bool suppressActivityUpdates =
 	}
 }
 
+bool NETplayerHasConnection(uint32_t index)
+{
+	ASSERT_HOST_ONLY(return false);
+	ASSERT_OR_RETURN(false, index < MAX_CONNECTED_PLAYERS, "Invalid index: %" PRIu32, index);
+	return connected_bsocket[index] != nullptr;
+}
+
 /**
  * @note Connection dropped. Handle it gracefully.
  * \param index
@@ -2174,10 +2181,13 @@ static inline bool NETFilterMessageWhileSwappingPlayer(uint8_t sender, uint8_t t
 	{
 		// this client did not acknowledge the player index change before the timeout - kick them
 		char msg[256] = {'\0'};
-		ssprintf(msg, "Auto-kicking player %u, did not ack player index change within required timeframe.", (unsigned int)sender);
-		sendInGameSystemMessage(msg);
-		debug(LOG_INFO, "Client (player: %u) failed to ack player index swap (ignoring message type: %" PRIu8 ")", sender, type);
-		kickPlayer(sender, _("Client failed to ack player index swap"), ERROR_INVALID, false);
+		if (NETplayerHasConnection(sender) || NetPlay.players[sender].allocated)
+		{
+			ssprintf(msg, "Auto-kicking player %u, did not ack player index change within required timeframe.", (unsigned int)sender);
+			sendInGameSystemMessage(msg);
+			debug(LOG_INFO, "Client (player: %u) failed to ack player index swap (ignoring message type: %" PRIu8 ")", sender, type);
+			kickPlayer(sender, _("Client failed to ack player index swap"), ERROR_INVALID, false);
+		}
 		return true; // filter original message, of course
 	}
 
diff --git a/lib/netplay/netplay.h b/lib/netplay/netplay.h
index 1353c1287b9..1c029eb3b01 100644
--- a/lib/netplay/netplay.h
+++ b/lib/netplay/netplay.h
@@ -392,6 +392,8 @@ size_t NETgetStatistic(NetStatisticType type, bool sent, bool isTotal = false);
 
 void NETplayerKicked(UDWORD index);			// Cleanup after player has been kicked
 
+bool NETplayerHasConnection(uint32_t index);
+
 bool NETcanOpenNewSpectatorSlot();
 bool NETopenNewSpectatorSlot();
 bool NETmovePlayerToSpectatorOnlySlot(uint32_t playerIdx, bool hostOverride = false);
diff --git a/src/multiplay.cpp b/src/multiplay.cpp
index 2f550d9e251..3d636072b70 100644
--- a/src/multiplay.cpp
+++ b/src/multiplay.cpp
@@ -1394,8 +1394,11 @@ void HandleBadParam(const char *msg, const int from, const int actual)
 	NETlogEntry(buf, SYNC_FLAG, actual);
 	if (NetPlay.isHost)
 	{
-		ssprintf(buf, _("Auto kicking player %s, invalid command received."), NetPlay.players[actual].name);
-		sendInGameSystemMessage(buf);
+		if (NETplayerHasConnection(actual))
+		{
+			ssprintf(buf, _("Auto kicking player %s, invalid command received."), NetPlay.players[actual].name);
+			sendInGameSystemMessage(buf);
+		}
 		kickPlayer(actual, buf, KICK_TYPE, false);
 	}
 }