diff --git a/language.version b/language.version
index f41ac100a..bc1ebdef7 100644
--- a/language.version
+++ b/language.version
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 [default]
-SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r962 \cu(Tue 26 Sep 12:58:06 CEST 2023)\c-";
-SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r962 \cu(2023-09-26 12:58:06)\c-";
+SWWM_MODVER="\cyDEMOLITIONIST \cw1.3pre r963 \cu(Wed 27 Sep 21:01:44 CEST 2023)\c-";
+SWWM_SHORTVER="\cw1.3pre r963 \cu(2023-09-27 21:01:44)\c-";
diff --git a/zscript/hud/swwm_hudextra.zsc b/zscript/hud/swwm_hudextra.zsc
index 25487de1b..30a6bfcba 100644
--- a/zscript/hud/swwm_hudextra.zsc
+++ b/zscript/hud/swwm_hudextra.zsc
@@ -743,6 +743,9 @@ Class DSMapTitle : HUDMessageBase
 		txtsub = level.authorname;
 		if ( txt.Left(1) == "$" ) txt = StringTable.Localize(txt);
 		if ( txtsub.Left(1) == "$" ) txtsub = StringTable.Localize(txtsub);
+		// may contain color escapes, which we don't support here
+		SWWMUtility.StripColor(txt);
+		SWWMUtility.StripColor(txtsub);
 		// level name may contain trailing whitespace due to DEHACKED nonsense, so strip it
 		txt.StripRight();
 		int sep;