diff --git a/source/enemy/ndogfish.cpp b/source/enemy/ndogfish.cpp
index c8b7ab228..b65425870 100644
--- a/source/enemy/ndogfish.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/ndogfish.cpp
@@ -554,11 +554,16 @@ void CNpcIronDogfishEnemy::collidedWith( CThing *_thisThing )
 
 void CNpcIronDogfishEnemy::shutdown()
 {
+	CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
+
 	if ( m_state != NPC_GENERIC_HIT_DEATH_END )
 	{
-		CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
 		CLevel::setBossHealth( m_health );
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		CLevel::setBossHealth( 0 );
+	}
 
 	CNpcBossEnemy::shutdown();
 }
diff --git a/source/enemy/nfdutch.cpp b/source/enemy/nfdutch.cpp
index becc35116..3e5f23ad0 100644
--- a/source/enemy/nfdutch.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/nfdutch.cpp
@@ -650,11 +650,16 @@ void CNpcFlyingDutchmanEnemy::processShotDeathEnd( int _frames )
 
 void CNpcFlyingDutchmanEnemy::shutdown()
 {
+	CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
+
 	if ( m_state != NPC_GENERIC_HIT_DEATH_END )
 	{
-		CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
 		CLevel::setBossHealth( m_health );
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		CLevel::setBossHealth( 0 );
+	}
 
 	CNpcBossEnemy::shutdown();
 }
diff --git a/source/enemy/nmjfish.cpp b/source/enemy/nmjfish.cpp
index 067d3f3db..772c059ca 100644
--- a/source/enemy/nmjfish.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/nmjfish.cpp
@@ -620,11 +620,16 @@ void CNpcMotherJellyfishEnemy::processClose( int _frames )
 
 void CNpcMotherJellyfishEnemy::shutdown()
 {
+	CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
+
 	if ( m_isActive )
 	{
-		CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
 		CLevel::setBossHealth( m_health );
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		CLevel::setBossHealth( 0 );
+	}
 
 	for ( int i = 0 ; i < 4 ; i++ )
 	{
diff --git a/source/enemy/npc.cpp b/source/enemy/npc.cpp
index 80cdc9501..d22c49fe1 100644
--- a/source/enemy/npc.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/npc.cpp
@@ -216,6 +216,27 @@ CNpcEnemy::NPC_UNIT_TYPE CNpcEnemy::getTypeFromMapEdit( u16 newType )
 
 CNpcEnemy	*CNpcEnemy::Create(int enemyType)
 {
+	switch( enemyType )
+	{
+		case CNpcEnemy::NPC_MOTHER_JELLYFISH:
+		case CNpcEnemy::NPC_SUB_SHARK:
+		case CNpcEnemy::NPC_SEA_SNAKE:
+		case CNpcEnemy::NPC_FLYING_DUTCHMAN:
+		case CNpcEnemy::NPC_IRON_DOGFISH:
+		{
+			if ( CLevel::getIsBossRespawn() )
+			{
+				if ( !CLevel::getBossHealth() )
+				{
+					return( NULL );
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		default:
+			break;
+	}
+
 	CNpcEnemy *enemy;
 
 	enemy = (CNpcEnemy*)CThingManager::GetThing(TYPE_ENEMY,enemyType);
@@ -455,7 +476,6 @@ CNpcEnemy *enemy;
 	NPC_UNIT_TYPE enemyType = CNpcEnemy::getTypeFromMapEdit( ThisActor->Type );
 
 	enemy = (CNpcEnemy*)Create(enemyType);
-	ASSERT(enemy);
 
 	return(enemy);
 }
diff --git a/source/enemy/nsshark.cpp b/source/enemy/nsshark.cpp
index faa803131..f9f339c2b 100644
--- a/source/enemy/nsshark.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/nsshark.cpp
@@ -712,11 +712,16 @@ void CNpcSubSharkEnemy::processShot( int _frames )
 
 void CNpcSubSharkEnemy::shutdown()
 {
+	CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
+
 	if ( m_state != NPC_GENERIC_HIT_DEATH_END )
 	{
-		CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
 		CLevel::setBossHealth( m_health );
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		CLevel::setBossHealth( 0 );
+	}
 
 	CNpcBossEnemy::shutdown();
 }
diff --git a/source/enemy/nssnake.cpp b/source/enemy/nssnake.cpp
index 58e4a1693..b8d914cef 100644
--- a/source/enemy/nssnake.cpp
+++ b/source/enemy/nssnake.cpp
@@ -179,11 +179,16 @@ void CNpcSeaSnakeSegment::shutdown()
 
 void CNpcSeaSnakeEnemy::shutdown()
 {
+	CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
+
 	if ( m_state != NPC_GENERIC_HIT_DEATH_END )
 	{
-		CLevel::setIsBossRespawn( true );
 		CLevel::setBossHealth( m_health );
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		CLevel::setBossHealth( 0 );
+	}
 
 	// delete snake segments
 
diff --git a/source/level/level.cpp b/source/level/level.cpp
index 82be4bb7c..d3a035774 100644
--- a/source/level/level.cpp
+++ b/source/level/level.cpp
@@ -492,12 +492,18 @@ void	CLevel::initThings(int _respawningLevel)
 					{
 						CNpcEnemy *enemy;
 						enemy=CNpcEnemy::Create(ThisActor);
-						enemy->setupWaypoints( ThisActor );
-						enemy->postInit();
 
-						if ( ThisActor->Speed )
+						if ( enemy )
 						{
-							enemy->setSpeed( ThisActor->Speed );
+							// if boss is killed and user dies, boss will not initialise and will return NULL
+
+							enemy->setupWaypoints( ThisActor );
+							enemy->postInit();
+
+							if ( ThisActor->Speed )
+							{
+								enemy->setSpeed( ThisActor->Speed );
+							}
 						}
 					}
 					break;
@@ -563,8 +569,8 @@ void	CLevel::initThings(int _respawningLevel)
 /*****************************************************************************/
 void	CLevel::respawnLevel()
 {
-	m_isBossRespawn = false;
-	m_bossHealth = 0;
+	//m_isBossRespawn = false;
+	//m_bossHealth = 0;
 
 	CThingManager::killAllThingsForRespawn();
 	initThings(true);