diff --git a/src/game_playerother.h b/src/game_playerother.h
index be431e1c9..24feee6b0 100644
--- a/src/game_playerother.h
+++ b/src/game_playerother.h
@@ -12,8 +12,11 @@ using Game_PlayerBase = Game_CharacterDataStorage<lcf::rpg::SavePartyLocation>;
  */
 class Game_PlayerOther : public Game_PlayerBase {
 	public:
+		static constexpr int DEFAULT_FACING = Down;
+
 		Game_PlayerOther(int id) : Game_CharacterDataStorage(PlayerOther), id(id)
 		{
+			SetFacing(DEFAULT_FACING);
 			SetDirection(lcf::rpg::EventPage::Direction_down);
 			SetMoveSpeed(4);
 			SetAnimationType(lcf::rpg::EventPage::AnimType_non_continuous);
diff --git a/src/multiplayer/game_multiplayer.cpp b/src/multiplayer/game_multiplayer.cpp
index bbda99587..ddfea4964 100644
--- a/src/multiplayer/game_multiplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/multiplayer/game_multiplayer.cpp
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ void Game_Multiplayer::SendBasicData() {
 	connection.SendPacketAsync<C::SpeedPacket>(player->GetMoveSpeed());
 	connection.SendPacketAsync<C::SpritePacket>(player->GetSpriteName(),
 				player->GetSpriteIndex());
-	if (player->GetFacing() > 0) {
+	if (player->GetFacing() != Game_PlayerOther::DEFAULT_FACING) {
 		connection.SendPacketAsync<C::FacingPacket>(player->GetFacing());
 	}
 	connection.SendPacketAsync<C::HiddenPacket>(player->IsSpriteHidden());