diff --git a/ArchipelagoRandomizer/DeathManager.cs b/ArchipelagoRandomizer/DeathManager.cs
index d3f8a7f..a26fac8 100644
--- a/ArchipelagoRandomizer/DeathManager.cs
+++ b/ArchipelagoRandomizer/DeathManager.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ internal class DeathManager : MonoBehaviour
 
 	private DeathLinkService deathLinkService;
 	private DamageablePlayer damageable;
-	private UIMenuPauseController pauseController;
 	private readonly List<string> deathMessages =
 	[
 		"{name}'s last feather has fallen...",
@@ -91,6 +90,11 @@ private void OnDeathReceived(DeathLink deathLink)
 	private IEnumerator DoDeathReceived(DeathLink deathLink)
 	{
 		Logger.Log("Received death! You will die when next possible...");
+		while (!PlayerGlobal.instance)
+		{
+			// if Player doesn't exist yet
+			yield return null;
+		}
 		PlayerGlobal player = PlayerGlobal.instance;
 		preventDeath = true;
 
@@ -99,11 +103,6 @@ private IEnumerator DoDeathReceived(DeathLink deathLink)
 			damageable = player.GetComponent<DamageablePlayer>();
 		}
 
-		if (pauseController == null)
-		{
-			pauseController = FindObjectOfType<UIMenuPauseController>();
-		}
-
 		while (!CanDie())
 		{
 			yield return null;
@@ -112,8 +111,8 @@ private IEnumerator DoDeathReceived(DeathLink deathLink)
 		diedFromDeathLink = true;
 
 		// Apply damage instead of calling Die method to avoid issues
-		damageable.SetHealth(1);
-		damageable.ReceiveDamage(1, 0, player.transform.position, player.transform.position, Damageable.DamageType.Hole, 1);
+		damageable.SetHealth(1f);
+		damageable.ReceiveDamage(10f, 0, player.transform.position, player.transform.position, Damageable.DamageType.Hole, 1);
 		StartCoroutine(DeathCooldownTimer());
 	}