diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/GainsExperience.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/GainsExperience.cs
index ebc8747ef5..7f4b2eb61a 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/GainsExperience.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Traits/GainsExperience.cs
@@ -96,6 +96,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 
 		public void GiveLevels(int numLevels, bool silent = false)
 		{
+			if (MaxLevel == 0)
+				return;
+
 			var newLevel = Math.Min(Level + numLevels, MaxLevel);
 			GiveExperience(nextLevel[newLevel - 1].First - experience, silent);
 		}
@@ -105,6 +108,9 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Traits
 			if (amount < 0)
 				throw new ArgumentException("Revoking experience is not implemented.", "amount");
 
+			if (MaxLevel == 0)
+				return;
+
 			experience = (experience + amount).Clamp(0, nextLevel[MaxLevel - 1].First);
 
 			while (Level < MaxLevel && experience >= nextLevel[Level].First)