diff --git a/src/burn/drv/dataeast/deco16ic.cpp b/src/burn/drv/dataeast/deco16ic.cpp
index cbfc0ce04..8fb72574f 100644
--- a/src/burn/drv/dataeast/deco16ic.cpp
+++ b/src/burn/drv/dataeast/deco16ic.cpp
@@ -85,19 +85,22 @@ void deco16_draw_prio_sprite(UINT16 *dest, UINT8 *gfx, INT32 code, INT32 color,
 
 			if (!pxl) continue;
 
-			INT32 bpriority = deco16_prio_map[(sy * 512) + sx];
-
-			if (spri == -1) {
-				if ((pri & (1 << (bpriority & 0x1f))) || (bpriority & 0x80)) continue;
-				deco16_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] |= 0x80; // right?
-			} else {
-				if (pri <= bpriority || spri <= deco16_sprite_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx]) continue;
-				deco16_sprite_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] = spri;
-				deco16_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] = pri; // right?
+			if (pri != -1) {
+				INT32 bpriority = deco16_prio_map[(sy * 512) + sx];
+	
+				if (spri == -1) {
+					if ((pri & (1 << (bpriority & 0x1f))) || (bpriority & 0x80)) continue;
+					deco16_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] |= 0x80; // right?
+				} else {
+					if (pri <= bpriority || spri <= deco16_sprite_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx]) continue;
+					deco16_sprite_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] = spri;
+					deco16_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] = pri; // right?
+				}
 			}
 
-		
 			dest[sy * nScreenWidth + sx] = pxl | color;
+
+			deco16_prio_map[sy * 512 + sx] |= 0x80; // right?
 		}
 
 		sx -= 16;