diff --git a/zone/exp.cpp b/zone/exp.cpp
index 92890ed1d..d4a094fbc 100644
--- a/zone/exp.cpp
+++ b/zone/exp.cpp
@@ -1256,8 +1256,10 @@ uint8 Client::GetCharMaxLevelFromQGlobal() {
 
 	std::list<QGlobal> global_map;
 
+	const uint32 zone_id = zone ? zone->GetZoneID() : 0;
+
 	if (char_cache) {
-		QGlobalCache::Combine(global_map, char_cache->GetBucket(), 0, CharacterID(), zone->GetZoneID());
+		QGlobalCache::Combine(global_map, char_cache->GetBucket(), 0, CharacterID(), zone_id);
 	}
 
 	for (const auto& global : global_map) {