diff --git a/Source/missiles.cpp b/Source/missiles.cpp
index d50593b09..7094f1fa8 100644
--- a/Source/missiles.cpp
+++ b/Source/missiles.cpp
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ bool MonsterMHit(int pnum, int monsterId, int mindam, int maxdam, int dist, miss
 		if (monster._mmode != MonsterMode::Petrified && MissilesData[t].mType == 0 && HasAnyOf(player._pIFlags, ItemSpecialEffect::Knockback))
 			M_GetKnockback(monster);
 		if (monster.type().type != MT_GOLEM)
-			M_StartHit(monsterId, pnum, dam);
+			M_StartHit(monster, pnum, dam);
 	}
 
 	if (monster._msquelch == 0) {
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ bool MonsterTrapHit(int monsterId, int mindam, int maxdam, int dist, missile_id
 		PlayEffect(monster, 1);
 	} else {
 		if (monster.type().type != MT_GOLEM)
-			M_StartHit(monsterId, dam);
+			M_StartHit(monster, dam);
 	}
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/Source/monster.cpp b/Source/monster.cpp
index 78385fea7..3c0a74499 100644
--- a/Source/monster.cpp
+++ b/Source/monster.cpp
@@ -1287,7 +1287,7 @@ void CheckReflect(int monsterId, int pnum, int dam)
 	if (monster._mhitpoints >> 6 <= 0)
 		M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
 	else
-		M_StartHit(monsterId, pnum, mdam);
+		M_StartHit(monster, pnum, mdam);
 }
 
 void MonsterAttackPlayer(int monsterId, int pnum, int hit, int minDam, int maxDam)
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ void MonsterAttackPlayer(int monsterId, int pnum, int hit, int minDam, int maxDa
 		if (monster._mhitpoints >> 6 <= 0)
 			M_StartKill(monsterId, pnum);
 		else
-			M_StartHit(monsterId, pnum, mdam);
+			M_StartHit(monster, pnum, mdam);
 	}
 	if ((monster._mFlags & MFLAG_NOLIFESTEAL) == 0 && monster.type().type == MT_SKING && gbIsMultiplayer)
 		monster._mhitpoints += dam;
@@ -3886,10 +3886,8 @@ void M_GetKnockback(Monster &monster)
 	StartMonsterGotHit(monster);
 }
 
-void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int dam)
+void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int dam)
 {
-	Monster &monster = Monsters[monsterId];
-
 	PlayEffect(monster, 1);
 
 	if (IsAnyOf(monster.type().type, MT_SNEAK, MT_STALKER, MT_UNSEEN, MT_ILLWEAV) || dam >> 6 >= monster.mLevel + 3) {
@@ -3907,14 +3905,12 @@ void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int dam)
 	}
 }
 
-void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int pnum, int dam)
+void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int pnum, int dam)
 {
-	Monster &monster = Monsters[monsterId];
-
 	monster.mWhoHit |= 1 << pnum;
 	if (pnum == MyPlayerId) {
 		delta_monster_hp(monster, *MyPlayer);
-		NetSendCmdMonDmg(false, monsterId, dam);
+		NetSendCmdMonDmg(false, monster.getId(), dam);
 	}
 	if (IsAnyOf(monster.type().type, MT_SNEAK, MT_STALKER, MT_UNSEEN, MT_ILLWEAV) || dam >> 6 >= monster.mLevel + 3) {
 		monster._menemy = pnum;
@@ -3923,7 +3919,7 @@ void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int pnum, int dam)
 		monster._mdir = GetMonsterDirection(monster);
 	}
 
-	M_StartHit(monsterId, dam);
+	M_StartHit(monster, dam);
 }
 
 void StartMonsterDeath(Monster &monster, int pnum, bool sendmsg)
@@ -4625,7 +4621,7 @@ void MissToMonst(Missile &missile, Point position)
 	monster.position.tile = position;
 	M_StartStand(monster, monster._mdir);
 	if ((monster._mFlags & MFLAG_TARGETS_MONSTER) == 0)
-		M_StartHit(monsterId, 0);
+		M_StartHit(monster, 0);
 	else
 		HitMonster(monsterId, 0);
 
diff --git a/Source/monster.h b/Source/monster.h
index de7b9d0b7..a7782e4eb 100644
--- a/Source/monster.h
+++ b/Source/monster.h
@@ -307,8 +307,8 @@ bool M_Talker(const Monster &monster);
 void M_StartStand(Monster &monster, Direction md);
 void M_ClearSquares(const Monster &monster);
 void M_GetKnockback(Monster &monster);
-void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int dam);
-void M_StartHit(int monsterId, int pnum, int dam);
+void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int dam);
+void M_StartHit(Monster &monster, int pnum, int dam);
 void StartMonsterDeath(Monster &monster, int pnum, bool sendmsg);
 void M_StartKill(int monsterId, int pnum);
 void M_SyncStartKill(int monsterId, Point position, int pnum);
diff --git a/Source/msg.cpp b/Source/msg.cpp
index b32dcb371..a73047aca 100644
--- a/Source/msg.cpp
+++ b/Source/msg.cpp
@@ -1434,8 +1434,9 @@ DWORD OnKnockback(const TCmd *pCmd, int pnum)
 	const auto &message = *reinterpret_cast<const TCmdParam1 *>(pCmd);
 
 	if (gbBufferMsgs != 1 && Players[pnum].isOnActiveLevel() && message.wParam1 < MaxMonsters) {
-		M_GetKnockback(Monsters[message.wParam1]);
-		M_StartHit(message.wParam1, pnum, 0);
+		Monster &monster = Monsters[message.wParam1];
+		M_GetKnockback(monster);
+		M_StartHit(monster, pnum, 0);
 	}
 
 	return sizeof(message);
diff --git a/Source/player.cpp b/Source/player.cpp
index 067d67837..b7a3d7a70 100644
--- a/Source/player.cpp
+++ b/Source/player.cpp
@@ -975,7 +975,7 @@ bool PlrHitMonst(int pnum, int monsterId, bool adjacentDamage = false)
 	} else {
 		if (monster._mmode != MonsterMode::Petrified && HasAnyOf(player._pIFlags, ItemSpecialEffect::Knockback))
 			M_GetKnockback(monster);
-		M_StartHit(monsterId, pnum, dam);
+		M_StartHit(monster, pnum, dam);
 	}
 
 	return true;