diff --git a/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/p2p.cpp b/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/p2p.cpp
index 9131b13b1..8a7d178aa 100644
--- a/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/p2p.cpp
+++ b/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/p2p.cpp
@@ -60,12 +60,9 @@ GGPOErrorCode Peer2PeerBackend::AddSpectator(ENetPeer* peer)
    if (_num_spectators == GGPO_MAX_SPECTATORS) {
       return GGPO_ERRORCODE_TOO_MANY_SPECTATORS;
    }
-   /*
-    * Currently, we can only add spectators before the game starts.
-    */
-   if (!_synchronizing) {
-      return GGPO_ERRORCODE_INVALID_REQUEST;
-   }
+
+   _synchronizing = true;
+
    int queue = _num_spectators++;
 
    _spectators[queue].Init(peer, queue + 1000, _local_connect_status);
@@ -164,7 +161,7 @@ Peer2PeerBackend::DoPoll()
                   input.size = _input_size * _num_players;
                   _sync.GetConfirmedInputs(input.bits, _input_size * _num_players, _next_spectator_frame);
                   for (int i = 0; i < _num_spectators; i++) {
-                     _spectators[i].SendInput(input);
+                      _spectators[i].SendInput(input);
                   }
                   _next_spectator_frame++;
                }
@@ -721,6 +718,7 @@ Peer2PeerBackend::CheckInitialSync()
             return;
          }
       }
+
       for (i = 0; i < _num_spectators; i++) {
          if (_spectators[i].IsInitialized() && !_spectators[i].IsSynchronized()) {
             return;
diff --git a/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/spectator.cpp b/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/spectator.cpp
index d93cc1bfe..bf0f81b39 100644
--- a/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/spectator.cpp
+++ b/dep/ggpo-x/src/backends/spectator.cpp
@@ -17,13 +17,6 @@ SpectatorBackend::SpectatorBackend(GGPOSessionCallbacks* cb, int num_players, in
       _inputs[i].frame = -1;
    }
 
-   /*
-    * Initialize the UDP port
-    */
-   // FIXME
-   //abort();
-   //_udp.Init(localport, &_poll, this);
-
    /*
     * Init the host endpoint
     */
diff --git a/dep/ggpo-x/src/network/udp_proto.cpp b/dep/ggpo-x/src/network/udp_proto.cpp
index 5b8d4543c..f45138e9d 100644
--- a/dep/ggpo-x/src/network/udp_proto.cpp
+++ b/dep/ggpo-x/src/network/udp_proto.cpp
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ int UdpProtocol::RemoteFrameDelay()const
 
 void UdpProtocol::Init(ENetPeer* peer, int queue, UdpMsg::connect_status *status)
 {  
-  _peer = peer;
+   _peer = peer;
    _queue = queue;
    _local_connect_status = status;
 
@@ -75,6 +75,12 @@ void UdpProtocol::Init(ENetPeer* peer, int queue, UdpMsg::connect_status *status
 void
 UdpProtocol::SendInput(GameInput &input)
 {
+   // when spectating and you hit the end of the buffer its time to acknowledge that the peer is dead.
+   if (_queue >= 1000 && _pending_output.size() >= 63) {
+      Disconnect();
+      return;
+   }
+
    if (_peer) {
       if (_current_state == Running) {
          /*
diff --git a/src/core/netplay.cpp b/src/core/netplay.cpp
index 10c554b25..24c364bd4 100644
--- a/src/core/netplay.cpp
+++ b/src/core/netplay.cpp
@@ -169,6 +169,7 @@ static Common::Timer s_last_host_connection_attempt;
 static std::array<Peer, MAX_SPECTATORS> s_spectators;
 static std::bitset<MAX_SPECTATORS> s_reset_spectators;
 static s32 s_num_spectators = 0;
+static s32 s_spectating_failed_count = 0;
 static bool s_local_spectating;
 
 /// GGPO
@@ -848,6 +849,7 @@ void Netplay::DestroyGGPOSession()
   s_ggpo = nullptr;
   s_save_buffer_pool.clear();
   s_local_handle = GGPO_INVALID_HANDLE;
+  s_spectating_failed_count = 0;
 
   for (Peer& p : s_peers)
     p.ggpo_handle = GGPO_INVALID_HANDLE;
@@ -1072,10 +1074,6 @@ void Netplay::DropSpectator(s32 slot_id, DropPlayerReason reason)
   enet_peer_disconnect_now(s_spectators[slot_id].peer, 0);
   s_spectators[slot_id] = {};
   s_num_spectators--;
-  // sadly we have to reset here. this really sucks for the active players since you dont really want to halt for a spectator.
-  // not resetting seems to be creating index out of bounds errors in the ringbuffer.
-  // TODO ? 
-  Reset();
 }
 
 void Netplay::UpdateConnectingState()
@@ -1771,7 +1769,7 @@ void Netplay::SetSettings(const ConnectResponseMessage* msg)
   si.SetBoolValue("GPU", "UseSoftwareRendererForReadbacks", true);
 
   // No cheats.. yet. Need to serialize them, and that has security risks.
-  si.SetBoolValue("Main", "AutoLoadCheats", false);
+  // si.SetBoolValue("Main", "AutoLoadCheats", false);
 
   // No PCDRV or texture replacements, they require local files.
   si.SetBoolValue("PCDrv", "Enabled", false);
@@ -1973,6 +1971,14 @@ void Netplay::RunFrame()
   if (GGPO_SUCCEEDED(result))
   {
     result = SyncInput(inputs, &disconnect_flags);
+    if (s_local_spectating && result != GGPO_OK)
+    {
+      s_spectating_failed_count++;
+      // after 5 seconds and still not spectating close since you are stuck.
+      if (s_spectating_failed_count >= 300)
+        CloseSessionWithError("Failed to sync spectator. Please try again.");
+    }
+
     if (GGPO_SUCCEEDED(result))
     {
       // enable again when rolling back done