diff --git a/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp b/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
index 19bbf10d458..aba2e782e43 100644
--- a/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
+++ b/Source/controls/plrctrls.cpp
@@ -221,6 +221,8 @@ void CheckTownersNearby()
 		int distance = GetDistance(Towners[i].position, 2);
 		if (distance == 0)
 			continue;
+		if (!IsTownerPresent(Towners[i]._ttype))
+			continue;
 		pcursmonst = i;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/Source/towners.h b/Source/towners.h
index 1788f53a155..00f3a69d44b 100644
--- a/Source/towners.h
+++ b/Source/towners.h
@@ -72,7 +72,8 @@ struct Towner {
 };
 
 extern Towner Towners[NUM_TOWNERS];
-/**
+bool IsTownerPresent(_talker_id npc);
+    /**
  * @brief Maps from a _talker_id value to a pointer to the Towner object, if they have been initialised
  * @param type enum constant identifying the towner
  * @return Pointer to the Towner or nullptr if they are not available