diff --git a/src/server/game/Entities/Creature/Creature.cpp b/src/server/game/Entities/Creature/Creature.cpp
index c5e7eb1acb6..76ecfc046ad 100644
--- a/src/server/game/Entities/Creature/Creature.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game/Entities/Creature/Creature.cpp
@@ -1537,14 +1537,32 @@ bool Creature::LoadFromDB(ObjectGuid::LowType spawnId, Map* map, bool addToMap,
 
     if (!m_respawnTime && !map->IsSpawnGroupActive(data->spawnGroupData->groupId))
     {
-        // @todo pools need fixing! this is just a temporary crashfix, but they violate dynspawn principles
-        ASSERT(m_respawnCompatibilityMode || sPoolMgr->IsPartOfAPool<Creature>(spawnId), "Creature (SpawnID %u) trying to load in inactive spawn group %s.", spawnId, data->spawnGroupData->name.c_str());
+        if (!m_respawnCompatibilityMode)
+        {
+            // @todo pools need fixing! this is just a temporary thing, but they violate dynspawn principles
+            if (!sPoolMgr->IsPartOfAPool<Creature>(spawnId))
+            {
+                TC_LOG_ERROR("entities.unit", "Creature (SpawnID %u) trying to load in inactive spawn group '%s':\n%s", spawnId, data->spawnGroupData->name.c_str(), GetDebugInfo().c_str());
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
         m_respawnTime = GameTime::GetGameTime() + urand(4, 7);
     }
 
-    if (m_respawnTime)                          // respawn on Update
+    if (m_respawnTime)
     {
-        ASSERT(m_respawnCompatibilityMode || sPoolMgr->IsPartOfAPool<Creature>(spawnId), "Creature (SpawnID %u) trying to load despite a respawn timer in progress.", spawnId);
+        if (!m_respawnCompatibilityMode)
+        {
+            // @todo same as above
+            if (!sPoolMgr->IsPartOfAPool<Creature>(spawnId))
+            {
+                TC_LOG_ERROR("entities.unit", "Creature (SpawnID %u) trying to load despite a respawn timer in progress:\n%s", spawnId, GetDebugInfo().c_str());
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // compatibility mode creatures will be respawned in ::Update()
         m_deathState = DEAD;
         if (CanFly())
         {
diff --git a/src/server/game/Maps/Map.cpp b/src/server/game/Maps/Map.cpp
index 4570b5fa697..02719912f90 100644
--- a/src/server/game/Maps/Map.cpp
+++ b/src/server/game/Maps/Map.cpp
@@ -3410,9 +3410,9 @@ bool Map::SpawnGroupSpawn(uint32 groupId, bool ignoreRespawn, bool force, std::v
                     continue;
 
         time_t respawnTime = GetRespawnTime(data->type, data->spawnId);
-        if (respawnTime && respawnTime > time(NULL))
+        if (respawnTime)
         {
-            if (!force && !ignoreRespawn)
+            if (!force && !ignoreRespawn && (respawnTime > GameTime::GetGameTime()))
                 continue;
 
             // we need to remove the respawn time, otherwise we'd end up double spawning