diff --git a/lib/netplay/netplay.c b/lib/netplay/netplay.c
index 3ed937670..293a42820 100644
--- a/lib/netplay/netplay.c
+++ b/lib/netplay/netplay.c
@@ -1415,11 +1415,14 @@ static BOOL NETprocessSystemMessage(void)
 				}
 				for (n = 0; n < indexLen; ++n)
 				{
+					bool wasAllocated = false;
+					char oldName[sizeof(NetPlay.players[index].name)];
+
 					// Retrieve the player's ID
 					NETuint32_t(&index);
 
 					// Bail out if the given ID number is out of range
-					if (index >= MAX_CONNECTED_PLAYERS || (NetMsg.source != NetPlay.hostPlayer && NetMsg.source != index))
+					if (index >= MAX_CONNECTED_PLAYERS || (NetMsg.source != NetPlay.hostPlayer && (NetMsg.source != index || !NetPlay.players[index].allocated)))
 					{
 						debug(LOG_ERROR, "MSG_PLAYER_INFO: Player ID (%u) out of range (max %u)", index, (unsigned int)MAX_CONNECTED_PLAYERS);
 						NETend();
@@ -1428,9 +1431,11 @@ static BOOL NETprocessSystemMessage(void)
 					}
 
 					// Retrieve the rest of the data
+					wasAllocated = NetPlay.players[index].allocated;
 					NETbool(&NetPlay.players[index].allocated);
 					NETbool(&NetPlay.players[index].heartbeat);
 					NETbool(&NetPlay.players[index].kick);
+					strncpy(oldName, NetPlay.players[index].name, sizeof(NetPlay.players[index].name));
 					NETstring(NetPlay.players[index].name, sizeof(NetPlay.players[index].name));
 					NETuint32_t(&NetPlay.players[index].heartattacktime);
 					NETint32_t(&colour);
@@ -1450,6 +1455,11 @@ static BOOL NETprocessSystemMessage(void)
 					debug(LOG_NET, "%s for player %u (%s)", n == 0? "Receiving MSG_PLAYER_INFO" : "                      and", (unsigned int)index, NetPlay.players[index].allocated ? "human" : "AI");
 					// update the color to the local array
 					setPlayerColour(index, NetPlay.players[index].colour);
+
+					if (wasAllocated && NetPlay.players[index].allocated && strncmp(oldName, NetPlay.players[index].name, sizeof(NetPlay.players[index].name)) != 0)
+					{
+						printConsoleNameChange(oldName, NetPlay.players[index].name);
+					}
 				}
 				NETuint32_t(&hostPlayer);
 			NETend();
diff --git a/src/multiint.c b/src/multiint.c
index c7d4ef36b..0f2b132c4 100644
--- a/src/multiint.c
+++ b/src/multiint.c
@@ -2499,8 +2499,7 @@ static void processMultiopWidgets(UDWORD id)
 
 		removeWildcards((char*)sPlayer);
 
-		ssprintf(tmp, "-> %s", sPlayer);
-		sendTextMessage(tmp,true);
+		printConsoleNameChange(NetPlay.players[selectedPlayer].name, sPlayer);
 
 		NETchangePlayerName(selectedPlayer, (char*)sPlayer);			// update if joined.
 		loadMultiStats((char*)sPlayer,&playerStats);
@@ -3094,8 +3093,9 @@ void runMultiOptions(void)
 				sstrcpy(sPlayer, sTemp);
 				widgSetString(psWScreen,MULTIOP_PNAME,sTemp);
 
-				ssprintf(sTemp, " -> %s", sPlayer);
-				sendTextMessage(sTemp,true);
+				removeWildcards((char*)sPlayer);
+
+				printConsoleNameChange(NetPlay.players[selectedPlayer].name, sPlayer);
 
 				NETchangePlayerName(selectedPlayer, (char*)sPlayer);
 				loadMultiStats((char*)sPlayer,&playerStats);
diff --git a/src/multiplay.c b/src/multiplay.c
index 26b332b04..728d136ce 100644
--- a/src/multiplay.c
+++ b/src/multiplay.c
@@ -1033,7 +1033,6 @@ BOOL recvResearchStatus()
 	return true;
 }
 
-
 // ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 // Text Messaging between players. proceed string with players to send to.
@@ -1180,6 +1179,19 @@ BOOL sendTextMessage(const char *pStr, BOOL all)
 	return true;
 }
 
+void printConsoleNameChange(const char *oldName, const char *newName)
+{
+	char msg[MAX_CONSOLE_STRING_LENGTH];
+
+	// Player changed name.
+	sstrcpy(msg, oldName);                               // Old name.
+	sstrcat(msg, " → ");                                 // Separator
+	sstrcat(msg, newName);  // New name.
+
+	addConsoleMessage(msg, DEFAULT_JUSTIFY, selectedPlayer);  // display
+}
+
+
 //AI multiplayer message, send from a certain player index to another player index
 BOOL sendAIMessage(char *pStr, UDWORD player, UDWORD to)
 {
diff --git a/src/multiplay.h b/src/multiplay.h
index a71d9cec2..100cbad1b 100644
--- a/src/multiplay.h
+++ b/src/multiplay.h
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ extern BOOL SendResearch(uint8_t player, uint32_t index, bool trigger);
 extern BOOL SendDestroyFeature  (FEATURE *pF);					// send a destruct feature message.
 extern BOOL sendTextMessage		(const char *pStr,BOOL cast);		// send a text message
 extern BOOL sendAIMessage		(char *pStr, UDWORD player, UDWORD to);	//send AI message
+void printConsoleNameChange(const char *oldName, const char *newName);  ///< Print message to console saying a name changed.
 
 extern void turnOffMultiMsg		(BOOL bDoit);