diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
index 6aa69e4f84..e5492011bb 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/GameInfo.kt
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ class GameInfo {
         //check is important or else switchTurn
         //would skip a turn if an AI civ calls nextTurn
         //this happens when resigning a multiplayer game
-        if (thisPlayer.isPlayerCivilization()){
+        if (thisPlayer.isPlayerCivilization()) {
             switchTurn()
         }
 
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ class GameInfo {
                 || turns < simulateMaxTurns && simulateUntilWin
                 // For multiplayer, if there are 3+ players and one is defeated or spectator,
                 // we'll want to skip over their turn
-                || gameParameters.isOnlineMultiplayer && (thisPlayer.isDefeated() || thisPlayer.isSpectator())
+                || gameParameters.isOnlineMultiplayer && (thisPlayer.isDefeated() || thisPlayer.isSpectator() && thisPlayer.playerId != UncivGame.Current.settings.userId)
         ) {
             if (!thisPlayer.isDefeated() || thisPlayer.isBarbarian()) {
                 NextTurnAutomation.automateCivMoves(thisPlayer)
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/civilization/CivilizationInfo.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/civilization/CivilizationInfo.kt
index 1c51df99fe..35837cf20f 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/logic/civilization/CivilizationInfo.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/logic/civilization/CivilizationInfo.kt
@@ -489,11 +489,12 @@ class CivilizationInfo {
         diplomacy[otherCiv.civName] = DiplomacyManager(this, otherCiv.civName)
             .apply { diplomaticStatus = DiplomaticStatus.Peace }
 
-        otherCiv.popupAlerts.add(PopupAlert(AlertType.FirstContact, civName))
+        if (!otherCiv.isSpectator())
+            otherCiv.popupAlerts.add(PopupAlert(AlertType.FirstContact, civName))
 
         if (isCurrentPlayer())
             UncivGame.Current.settings.addCompletedTutorialTask("Meet another civilization")
-        
+
         if (!(isCityState() && otherCiv.isMajorCiv())) return
         if (warOnContact || otherCiv.isMinorCivAggressor()) return // No gift if they are bad people, or we are just about to be at war
 
diff --git a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
index fb098a9c1a..13826ac628 100644
--- a/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
+++ b/core/src/com/unciv/ui/newgamescreen/NewGameScreen.kt
@@ -60,14 +60,6 @@ class NewGameScreen(
         rightSideButton.enable()
         rightSideButton.setText("Start game!".tr())
         rightSideButton.onClick {
-            if (gameSetupInfo.gameParameters.players.none { it.playerType == PlayerType.Human }) {
-                val noHumanPlayersPopup = Popup(this)
-                noHumanPlayersPopup.addGoodSizedLabel("No human players selected!".tr()).row()
-                noHumanPlayersPopup.addCloseButton()
-                noHumanPlayersPopup.open()
-                return@onClick
-            }
-
             if (gameSetupInfo.gameParameters.isOnlineMultiplayer) {
                 for (player in gameSetupInfo.gameParameters.players.filter { it.playerType == PlayerType.Human }) {
                     try {
@@ -82,6 +74,19 @@ class NewGameScreen(
                 }
             }
 
+            if (gameSetupInfo.gameParameters.players.none {
+                it.playerType == PlayerType.Human &&
+                    // do not allow multiplayer with only remote spectator(s) and AI(s) - non-MP that works
+                    !(it.chosenCiv == Constants.spectator && gameSetupInfo.gameParameters.isOnlineMultiplayer &&
+                            it.playerId != UncivGame.Current.settings.userId)
+            }) {
+                val noHumanPlayersPopup = Popup(this)
+                noHumanPlayersPopup.addGoodSizedLabel("No human players selected!".tr()).row()
+                noHumanPlayersPopup.addCloseButton()
+                noHumanPlayersPopup.open()
+                return@onClick
+            }
+
             Gdx.input.inputProcessor = null // remove input processing - nothing will be clicked!
 
             if (mapOptionsTable.mapTypeSelectBox.selected.value == MapType.custom) {