diff --git a/doc/fixes34.4 b/doc/fixes34.4
index d198e3585..8e11c3792 100644
--- a/doc/fixes34.4
+++ b/doc/fixes34.4
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ Orion, Norn, Cyclops and Lord Surtur should be able to tear webs
 ensure monsters cannot teleport to or be created outside nonpassable bounds
 	of special levels
 candles should not be fireproof
+monsters could end up off the left side of the Ranger quest start level
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific Fixes
diff --git a/src/sp_lev.c b/src/sp_lev.c
index 6b5898f96..b9add6cac 100644
--- a/src/sp_lev.c
+++ b/src/sp_lev.c
@@ -2155,7 +2155,8 @@ dlb *fd;
 	Fread((genericptr_t) &ysize, 1, sizeof(ysize), fd);
 					/* size in Y */
 	switch((int) halign) {
-	    case LEFT:	    xstart = 3;					break;
+	    /* mkmap always creates levels starting at x==1 */
+	    case LEFT:	    xstart = init_lev.init_present ? 1 : 3;	break;
 	    case H_LEFT:    xstart = 2+((x_maze_max-2-xsize)/4);	break;
 	    case CENTER:    xstart = 2+((x_maze_max-2-xsize)/2);	break;
 	    case H_RIGHT:   xstart = 2+((x_maze_max-2-xsize)*3/4);	break;