diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
index a4eea8cb1d2..43fc18f615b 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,18 @@ CommandList *TheCommandList = NULL;
  */
 GameMessage::GameMessage( GameMessage::Type type )
 {
-	m_playerIndex = ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer()->getPlayerIndex();
+	// Defensive programming: Check if ThePlayerList is initialized before dereferencing
+	// This prevents crashes during early initialization or shutdown when Windows messages
+	// can arrive before the game state is fully ready
+	if (ThePlayerList != NULL && ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer() != NULL)
+	{
+		m_playerIndex = ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer()->getPlayerIndex();
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// Use neutral player index (0) as a safe default when ThePlayerList is not yet initialized
+		m_playerIndex = 0;
+	}
 	m_type = type;
 	m_argList = NULL;
 	m_argTail = NULL;
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
index 4f0fdf775f6..317f9e521a8 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/MessageStream.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,18 @@ CommandList* TheCommandList = NULL;
  */
 GameMessage::GameMessage(GameMessage::Type type)
 {
-	m_playerIndex = ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer()->getPlayerIndex();
+	// Defensive programming: Check if ThePlayerList is initialized before dereferencing
+	// This prevents crashes during early initialization or shutdown when Windows messages
+	// can arrive before the game state is fully ready
+	if (ThePlayerList != NULL && ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer() != NULL)
+	{
+		m_playerIndex = ThePlayerList->getLocalPlayer()->getPlayerIndex();
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// Use neutral player index (0) as a safe default when ThePlayerList is not yet initialized
+		m_playerIndex = 0;
+	}
 	m_type = type;
 	m_argList = NULL;
 	m_argTail = NULL;