diff --git a/src/gameconfigfile.cpp b/src/gameconfigfile.cpp
index b5b57cd79..3aa808611 100644
--- a/src/gameconfigfile.cpp
+++ b/src/gameconfigfile.cpp
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ FString FGameConfigFile::GetConfigPath (bool tryProg)
 	if (path.IsEmpty())
 	{
 		if (Args.CheckParm ("-cdrom"))
-			return copystring ("c:\\zdoomdat\\zdoom.ini");
+			return "c:\\zdoomdat\\zdoom.ini";
 
 		path = progdir;
 		path += "zdoom.ini";
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ void FGameConfigFile::AddAutoexec (DArgs *list, const char *game)
 #ifndef unix
 			if (Args.CheckParm ("-cdrom"))
 			{
-				path = copystring ("c:\\zdoomdat\\autoexec.cfg");
+				path = "c:\\zdoomdat\\autoexec.cfg";
 			}
 			else
 			{
diff --git a/src/p_lnspec.cpp b/src/p_lnspec.cpp
index 18813c925..a9ce4ecfb 100644
--- a/src/p_lnspec.cpp
+++ b/src/p_lnspec.cpp
@@ -2638,6 +2638,12 @@ FUNC(LS_StartConversation)
 
 	AActor *target = iterator.Next();
 
+	// Nothing to talk to
+	if (target == NULL)
+	{
+		return false;
+	}
+	
 	// Only living players are allowed to start conversations
 	if (it == NULL || it->player == NULL || it->player->mo != it || it->health<=0)
 	{