diff --git a/src/graphics/engine/particle.cpp b/src/graphics/engine/particle.cpp
index 2642b74e..5f8b1601 100644
--- a/src/graphics/engine/particle.cpp
+++ b/src/graphics/engine/particle.cpp
@@ -641,22 +641,22 @@ void CParticle::GetRankFromChannel(int &channel)
     int uniqueStamp = (channel>>16)&0xffff;
     channel &= 0xffff;
 
-    assert(channel >= 0 && channel < MAXPARTICULE*MAXPARTITYPE);
-
-    if (!m_particle[channel].used) assert(!!"Tried to access invalid particle channel (used=false) !\n");
-    if (m_particle[channel].uniqueStamp != uniqueStamp) assert(!!"Tried to access invalid particle channel (uniqueStamp changed) !\n");
+    if (channel < 0 || channel >= MAXPARTICULE*MAXPARTITYPE) throw std::runtime_error("Tried to access invalid particle channel (invalid ID)");
+    if (!m_particle[channel].used) throw std::runtime_error("Tried to access invalid particle channel (used=false)");
+    if (m_particle[channel].uniqueStamp != uniqueStamp) throw std::runtime_error("Tried to access invalid particle channel (uniqueStamp changed)");
 }
 
 bool CParticle::ParticleExists(int channel)
 {
-    int uniqueStamp = (channel>>16)&0xffff;
-    channel &= 0xffff;
-
-    assert(channel >= 0 && channel < MAXPARTICULE*MAXPARTITYPE);
-
-    if (!m_particle[channel].used) return false;
-    if (m_particle[channel].uniqueStamp != uniqueStamp) return false;
-    return true;
+    try
+    {
+        GetRankFromChannel(channel);
+        return true;
+    }
+    catch (const std::runtime_error& e)
+    {
+        return false;
+    }
 }
 
 void CParticle::DeleteRank(int rank)
diff --git a/src/graphics/engine/particle.h b/src/graphics/engine/particle.h
index 55ef7baa..ec8d8820 100644
--- a/src/graphics/engine/particle.h
+++ b/src/graphics/engine/particle.h
@@ -297,7 +297,11 @@ public:
 protected:
     //! Removes a particle of given rank
     void        DeleteRank(int rank);
-    //! Adapts the channel so it can be used as an offset in m_particle
+    /**
+     * \brief Adapts the channel so it can be used as an offset in m_particle
+     * \param channel Channel number to process, will be modified to be index of particle in m_particle
+     * \throw std::runtime_error if this particle does not exist any more
+     **/
     void        GetRankFromChannel(int &channel);
     //! Draws a triangular particle
     void        DrawParticleTriangle(int i);
diff --git a/src/object/old_object.cpp b/src/object/old_object.cpp
index 7c2682d8..d945c5c8 100644
--- a/src/object/old_object.cpp
+++ b/src/object/old_object.cpp
@@ -2975,6 +2975,7 @@ void COldObject::UpdateSelectParticle()
     // Updates lens.
     for ( i=0 ; i<4 ; i++ )
     {
+        if (m_partiSel[i] == -1) continue;
         pos[i] = Math::Transform(m_objectPart[0].matWorld, pos[i]);
         dim[i].y = dim[i].x;
         m_particle->SetParam(m_partiSel[i], pos[i], dim[i], zoom[i], angle, 1.0f);