diff --git a/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.cpp b/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.cpp
index a29c520c9a0..4e7fe009538 100644
--- a/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.cpp
+++ b/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.cpp
@@ -937,6 +937,16 @@ void new_room(int newnum, CharacterInfo *forchar) {
 	load_new_room(newnum, forchar);
 }
 
+void set_room_placeholder() {
+	_GP(thisroom).InitDefaults();
+	std::shared_ptr<Bitmap> dummy_bg(new Bitmap(1, 1, 8));
+	_GP(thisroom).BgFrames[0].Graphic = dummy_bg;
+	_GP(thisroom).HotspotMask = dummy_bg;
+	_GP(thisroom).RegionMask = dummy_bg;
+	_GP(thisroom).WalkAreaMask = dummy_bg;
+	_GP(thisroom).WalkBehindMask = dummy_bg;
+}
+
 int find_highest_room_entered() {
 	int qq, fndas = -1;
 	for (qq = 0; qq < MAX_ROOMS; qq++) {
diff --git a/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.h b/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.h
index aa42ac18eaa..9ed38a4d1a4 100644
--- a/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.h
+++ b/engines/ags/engine/ac/room.h
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ void  save_room_data_segment();
 void  unload_old_room();
 void  load_new_room(int newnum, CharacterInfo *forchar);
 void  new_room(int newnum, CharacterInfo *forchar);
+// Sets up a placeholder room object; this is used to avoid occasional crashes
+// in case an API function was called that needs to access a room, while no real room is loaded
+void  set_room_placeholder();
 int   find_highest_room_entered();
 void  first_room_initialization();
 void  check_new_room();
diff --git a/engines/ags/engine/game/savegame.cpp b/engines/ags/engine/game/savegame.cpp
index 9bacfe6cd8b..e14e4ed5c57 100644
--- a/engines/ags/engine/game/savegame.cpp
+++ b/engines/ags/engine/game/savegame.cpp
@@ -493,6 +493,8 @@ HSaveError DoAfterRestore(const PreservedParams &pp, const RestoredData &r_data)
 	// load the room the game was saved in
 	if (_G(displayed_room) >= 0)
 		load_new_room(_G(displayed_room), nullptr);
+	else
+		set_room_placeholder();
 
 	update_polled_stuff_if_runtime();
 
diff --git a/engines/ags/engine/main/game_start.cpp b/engines/ags/engine/main/game_start.cpp
index 7e89a78e2c2..e0d4bfe78cc 100644
--- a/engines/ags/engine/main/game_start.cpp
+++ b/engines/ags/engine/main/game_start.cpp
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ void start_game_load_savegame_on_startup() {
 }
 
 void start_game() {
+	set_room_placeholder();
 	set_cursor_mode(MODE_WALK);
 	_GP(mouse).SetPosition(Point(160, 100));
 	newmusic(0);