diff --git a/src/game/mario.c b/src/game/mario.c
index cc5e8646..2d355298 100644
--- a/src/game/mario.c
+++ b/src/game/mario.c
@@ -1883,7 +1883,7 @@ void init_mario_from_save_file(void) {
         save_file_get_total_star_count(gCurrSaveFileNum - 1, COURSE_MIN - 1, COURSE_MAX - 1);
     gMarioState->numKeys = 0;
 
-    gMarioState->numLives = 4;
+    gMarioState->numLives = 99;
     gMarioState->health = 0x880;
 
     gMarioState->prevNumStarsForDialog = gMarioState->numStars;