diff --git a/src/items/Inventory.cpp b/src/items/Inventory.cpp
index 5978f2834..2946d20ab 100644
--- a/src/items/Inventory.cpp
+++ b/src/items/Inventory.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #include "Inventory.hpp"
 
 #include "content/ContentReport.hpp"
+#include "debug/Logger.hpp"
+
+static debug::Logger logger("inventory");
 
 Inventory::Inventory(int64_t id, size_t size) : id(id), slots(size) {
 }
@@ -104,6 +107,22 @@ dv::value Inventory::serialize() const {
     return map;
 }
 
+void Inventory::check(const ContentIndices& indices) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < slots.size(); i++) {
+        auto& slot = slots[i];
+        if (indices.items.get(slot.getItemId()) == nullptr) {
+#ifdef NDEBUG
+            logger.error() << "invalid item id " << slot.getItemId()
+                           << " found in inventory #" << id << " slot #" << i
+                           << "; will reset";
+            slot.clear();
+#else
+            abort();
+#endif
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 void Inventory::convert(const ContentReport* report) {
     for (auto& slot : slots) {
         itemid_t id = slot.getItemId();
diff --git a/src/items/Inventory.hpp b/src/items/Inventory.hpp
index 1c66fdece..80fbfecfb 100644
--- a/src/items/Inventory.hpp
+++ b/src/items/Inventory.hpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ public:
 
     dv::value serialize() const override;
 
+    void check(const ContentIndices& indices);
     void convert(const ContentReport* report);
     static void convert(dv::value& data, const ContentReport* report);
 
diff --git a/src/objects/Players.cpp b/src/objects/Players.cpp
index 5fc59f409..6bce34abd 100644
--- a/src/objects/Players.cpp
+++ b/src/objects/Players.cpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <glm/gtx/norm.hpp>
 
 #include "Player.hpp"
+#include "content/Content.hpp"
 #include "items/Inventories.hpp"
 #include "world/Level.hpp"
 #include "world/World.hpp"
@@ -87,7 +88,9 @@ Player* Players::create(int64_t id) {
     auto player = playerPtr.get();
     add(std::move(playerPtr));
 
-    level.inventories->store(player->getInventory());
+    auto inventory = player->getInventory();
+    inventory->check(*level.content.getIndices());
+    level.inventories->store(std::move(inventory));
     return player;
 }
 
@@ -147,6 +150,7 @@ void Players::deserialize(const dv::value& src) {
         if (inventory->getId() == 0) {
             inventory->setId(level.getWorld()->getNextInventoryId());
         }
-        level.inventories->store(player->getInventory());
+        inventory->check(*level.content.getIndices());
+        level.inventories->store(inventory);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/voxels/GlobalChunks.cpp b/src/voxels/GlobalChunks.cpp
index 032ae17e2..75aa380ff 100644
--- a/src/voxels/GlobalChunks.cpp
+++ b/src/voxels/GlobalChunks.cpp
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<Chunk> GlobalChunks::create(int x, int z, bool lighting) {
 
         chunk->flags.loaded = true;
         for (auto& entry : chunk->inventories) {
+            entry.second->check(indices);
             level.inventories->store(entry.second);
         }
     }