diff --git a/engine/client/cl_parse.c b/engine/client/cl_parse.c
index 0932b7ec..eef1d28d 100644
--- a/engine/client/cl_parse.c
+++ b/engine/client/cl_parse.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ CL_ParseParticles
 
 ==================
 */
-void CL_ParseParticles( sizebuf_t *msg )
+void CL_ParseParticles( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto )
 {
 	vec3_t		org, dir;
 	int		i, count, color;
@@ -277,8 +277,12 @@ void CL_ParseParticles( sizebuf_t *msg )
 
 	count = MSG_ReadByte( msg );
 	color = MSG_ReadByte( msg );
-	if( count == 255 ) count = 1024;
-	life = MSG_ReadByte( msg ) * 0.125f;
+	if( count == 255 )
+		count = 1024;
+
+	if( proto == PROTO_GOLDSRC )
+		life = 0.0f;
+	else life = MSG_ReadByte( msg ) * 0.125f;
 
 	if( life != 0.0f && count == 1 )
 	{
@@ -2585,7 +2589,7 @@ void CL_ParseServerMessage( sizebuf_t *msg )
 			CL_UpdateUserPings( msg );
 			break;
 		case svc_particle:
-			CL_ParseParticles( msg );
+			CL_ParseParticles( msg, PROTO_CURRENT );
 			break;
 		case svc_restoresound:
 			CL_ParseRestoreSoundPacket( msg );
diff --git a/engine/client/cl_parse_48.c b/engine/client/cl_parse_48.c
index 95b34508..fd4f5de5 100644
--- a/engine/client/cl_parse_48.c
+++ b/engine/client/cl_parse_48.c
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ void CL_ParseLegacyServerMessage( sizebuf_t *msg )
 			CL_UpdateUserPings( msg );
 			break;
 		case svc_particle:
-			CL_ParseParticles( msg );
+			CL_ParseParticles( msg, PROTO_LEGACY );
 			break;
 		case svc_restoresound:
 			Con_Printf( S_ERROR "%s: svc_restoresound: implement me!\n", __func__ );
diff --git a/engine/client/cl_parse_gs.c b/engine/client/cl_parse_gs.c
index 9730af3a..7b7d4601 100644
--- a/engine/client/cl_parse_gs.c
+++ b/engine/client/cl_parse_gs.c
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ void CL_ParseGoldSrcServerMessage( sizebuf_t *msg )
 			MSG_EndBitWriting( msg );
 			break;
 		case svc_particle:
-			CL_ParseParticles( msg );
+			CL_ParseParticles( msg, PROTO_GOLDSRC );
 			break;
 		case svc_spawnstatic:
 			// no-op
diff --git a/engine/client/client.h b/engine/client/client.h
index 4e97c6e6..cda42d96 100644
--- a/engine/client/client.h
+++ b/engine/client/client.h
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@ void CL_UpdateUserinfo( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto );
 void CL_ParseResource( sizebuf_t *msg );
 void CL_ParseClientData( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto );
 void CL_UpdateUserPings( sizebuf_t *msg );
-void CL_ParseParticles( sizebuf_t *msg );
+void CL_ParseParticles( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto );
 void CL_ParseRestoreSoundPacket( sizebuf_t *msg );
 void CL_ParseBaseline( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto );
 void CL_ParseSignon( sizebuf_t *msg, connprotocol_t proto );