diff --git a/cl_dll/cl_util.h b/cl_dll/cl_util.h
index c5c25169..e13c344f 100644
--- a/cl_dll/cl_util.h
+++ b/cl_dll/cl_util.h
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ inline int GetSpriteRes( int width, int height )
 			i = 2560;
 	}
 
-	return i;
+	return Q_min( i, gHUD.m_iMaxRes );
 }
 
 void ScaleColors( int &r, int &g, int &b, int a );
diff --git a/cl_dll/hud.cpp b/cl_dll/hud.cpp
index 853f34da..8a638775 100644
--- a/cl_dll/hud.cpp
+++ b/cl_dll/hud.cpp
@@ -484,13 +484,28 @@ void CHud::VidInit( void )
 	m_hsprLogo = 0;	
 	m_hsprCursor = 0;
 
+	// a1ba: don't break the loading order here and
+	// don't cause memory leak but check
+	// maximum HUD sprite resolution we have
+	m_iMaxRes = 640;
+	client_sprite_t *pSpriteList = m_pSpriteList ? m_pSpriteList :
+		SPR_GetList( "sprites/hud.txt", &m_iSpriteCountAllRes );
+	if( pSpriteList )
+	{
+		for( int i = 0; i < m_iSpriteCountAllRes; i++ )
+		{
+			if( m_iMaxRes < pSpriteList[i].iRes )
+				m_iMaxRes = pSpriteList[i].iRes;
+		}
+	}
+
 	m_iRes = GetSpriteRes( ScreenWidth, ScreenHeight );
 
 	// Only load this once
 	if( !m_pSpriteList )
 	{
 		// we need to load the hud.txt, and all sprites within
-		m_pSpriteList = SPR_GetList( "sprites/hud.txt", &m_iSpriteCountAllRes );
+		m_pSpriteList = pSpriteList;
 
 		if( m_pSpriteList )
 		{
diff --git a/cl_dll/hud.h b/cl_dll/hud.h
index 6bd3d9a3..aca0601b 100644
--- a/cl_dll/hud.h
+++ b/cl_dll/hud.h
@@ -555,6 +555,7 @@ public:
 	int		m_iFOV;
 	int		m_Teamplay;
 	int		m_iRes;
+	int		m_iMaxRes;
 	cvar_t  *m_pCvarStealMouse;
 	cvar_t	*m_pCvarDraw;
 	cvar_t  *m_pAllowHD;