diff --git a/Source/stores.cpp b/Source/stores.cpp
index fcead5648..e2f66e311 100644
--- a/Source/stores.cpp
+++ b/Source/stores.cpp
@@ -2026,7 +2026,9 @@ void TalkEnter()
 	}
 
 	if (stextsel == sn - 2) {
-		InitQTextMsg(Towners[talker].gossip);
+		Towner *target = GetTowner(talker);
+		assert(target != nullptr);
+		InitQTextMsg(target->gossip);
 		return;
 	}
 
diff --git a/Source/towners.cpp b/Source/towners.cpp
index ea5aaa5ea..4881c0e1b 100644
--- a/Source/towners.cpp
+++ b/Source/towners.cpp
@@ -841,6 +841,15 @@ bool IsTownerPresent(_talker_id npc)
 	}
 }
 
+Towner* GetTowner(_talker_id type)
+{
+	for (Towner& towner : Towners) {
+		if (towner._ttype == type)
+			return &towner;
+	}
+	return nullptr;
+}
+
 void InitTowners()
 {
 	assert(!CowSprites);
diff --git a/Source/towners.h b/Source/towners.h
index 0d3b8afad..7e545cbf1 100644
--- a/Source/towners.h
+++ b/Source/towners.h
@@ -68,6 +68,12 @@ struct Towner {
 };
 
 extern Towner Towners[NUM_TOWNERS];
+/**
+ * @brief Maps from a _talker_id value to a pointer to the Towner object, if they have been initialised
+ * @param type enum constant identifying the towner
+ * @return Pointer to the Towner or nullptr if they are not available
+ */
+Towner *GetTowner(_talker_id type);
 
 void InitTowners();
 void FreeTownerGFX();