diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.cpp b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
index cfbb2cbaba8..fd9f2da21cc 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.cpp
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.cpp
@@ -2577,15 +2577,19 @@ int check_sexp_syntax(int node, int return_type, int recursive, int *bad_node, s
 				if (type2 != SEXP_ATOM_STRING) {
 					return SEXP_CHECK_TYPE_MISMATCH;
 				}
-				if (ship_name_lookup(CTEXT(node), 1) < 0) {
-					if (Fred_running || !mission_check_ship_yet_to_arrive(CTEXT(node))) {
-						return SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP;
-					}
+				if (ship_name_lookup(CTEXT(node), 1) >= 0) {
+					break;
 				}
-				if (prop_name_lookup(CTEXT(node)) < 0) {
-					return SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_PROP;
+				if (prop_name_lookup(CTEXT(node)) >= 0) {
+					break;
 				}
-				break;
+
+				// also check arrival list if we're running the game
+				if (!Fred_running && mission_check_ship_yet_to_arrive(CTEXT(node))) {
+					break;
+				}
+				
+				return SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_PROP;
 
 			case OPF_AWACS_SUBSYSTEM:
 			case OPF_ROTATING_SUBSYSTEM:
@@ -35290,6 +35294,9 @@ const char *sexp_error_message(int num)
 		case SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_WING:
 			return "Invalid ship or wing name";
 
+		case SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_PROP:
+			return "Invalid ship or prop name";
+
 		case SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_TYPE:
 			return "Invalid ship type";
 
diff --git a/code/parse/sexp.h b/code/parse/sexp.h
index 93a41923c07..abe08dbfd91 100644
--- a/code/parse/sexp.h
+++ b/code/parse/sexp.h
@@ -1199,6 +1199,7 @@ enum sexp_error_check
 	SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_POINT,           // invalid point
 	SEXP_CHECK_NEGATIVE_NUM,            // negative number wasn't allowed
 	SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_WING,       // invalid ship/wing
+	SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_PROP,       // invalid ship/prop
 	SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_SHIP_TYPE,       // invalid ship type
 	SEXP_CHECK_UNKNOWN_MESSAGE,         // invalid message
 	SEXP_CHECK_INVALID_PRIORITY,        // invalid priority for a message
diff --git a/code/prop/prop.cpp b/code/prop/prop.cpp
index 13acac3c24e..80d7c014192 100644
--- a/code/prop/prop.cpp
+++ b/code/prop/prop.cpp
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ void parse_prop_table(const char* filename)
 				}
 
 				if (!flag_found) {
-					Warning(LOCATION, "Bogus string in ship flags: %s\n", cur_flag);
+					Warning(LOCATION, "Bogus string in prop flags: %s\n", cur_flag);
 				}
 			}
 		}