diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
index 6c323c786f5..8e53b6491fe 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,11 @@ void LaserUpdate::initLaser( const Object *parent, const Coord3D *startPos, cons
 		{
 			system->setPosition( &m_startPos );
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Particle system no longer exists; clear the stale ID to prevent future access violations.
+			m_particleSystemID = INVALID_PARTICLE_SYSTEM_ID;
+		}
 	}
 	if( m_targetParticleSystemID )
 	{
@@ -299,6 +304,11 @@ void LaserUpdate::initLaser( const Object *parent, const Coord3D *startPos, cons
 		{
 			system->setPosition( &m_endPos );
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Particle system no longer exists; clear the stale ID to prevent future access violations.
+			m_targetParticleSystemID = INVALID_PARTICLE_SYSTEM_ID;
+		}
 	}
 
 	//Important! Set the laser position to the average of both points or else
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
index 5214a726b5f..e8bd76f831d 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/Object/Update/LaserUpdate.cpp
@@ -392,6 +392,11 @@ void LaserUpdate::initLaser( const Object *parent, const Object *target, const C
 		{
 			system->setPosition( &m_startPos );
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Particle system no longer exists; clear the stale ID to prevent future access violations.
+			m_particleSystemID = INVALID_PARTICLE_SYSTEM_ID;
+		}
 	}
 
 	//PLEASE NOTE You cannot check an ID for nullptr.  This should be a check against INVALID_PARTICLE_SYSTEM_ID.  Can't change it on the last day without a bug though.
@@ -402,6 +407,11 @@ void LaserUpdate::initLaser( const Object *parent, const Object *target, const C
 		{
 			system->setPosition( &m_endPos );
 		}
+		else
+		{
+			// Particle system no longer exists; clear the stale ID to prevent future access violations.
+			m_targetParticleSystemID = INVALID_PARTICLE_SYSTEM_ID;
+		}
 	}
 
 	//Important! Set the laser position to the average of both points or else