diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
index 7af78126..5b83b627 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/Portal.java
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ public class Portal extends SimpleStreamableObject
     public int targetSceneId;
 
     /** The portal identifier of the portal at which a body will enter
-     * the target scene when they "use" this portal. */
+     * the target scene when they "use" this portal, or -1 to specify
+     * that the body enters on the default portal, whatever id it is.  */
     public short targetPortalId;
 
     /**
@@ -78,7 +79,9 @@ public class Portal extends SimpleStreamableObject
      */
     public boolean isValid ()
     {
-        return (targetSceneId > 0) && (targetPortalId > 0);
+        return (targetSceneId > 0) &&
+            // the target portal must be positive, or -1
+            ((targetPortalId > 0) || (targetPortalId == -1));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/SpotSceneImpl.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/SpotSceneImpl.java
index a7d87609..8820c274 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/SpotSceneImpl.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/data/SpotSceneImpl.java
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ public class SpotSceneImpl
     // documentation inherited from interface
     public Portal getPortal (int portalId)
     {
+        if (portalId == -1) {
+            portalId = _smodel.defaultEntranceId;
+        }
         return (Portal)_portals.get(portalId);
     }
 
@@ -93,7 +96,7 @@ public class SpotSceneImpl
     // documentation inherited from interface
     public Portal getDefaultEntrance ()
     {
-        return getPortal(_smodel.defaultEntranceId);
+        return getPortal(-1); // -1 is a shortcut meaning "default"
     }
 
     // documentation inherited from interface
diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
index b6f6e130..dce5a014 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/spot/server/SpotSceneManager.java
@@ -91,7 +91,12 @@ public class SpotSceneManager extends SceneManager
      */
     public void mapEnteringBody (BodyObject body, int portalId)
     {
-        _enterers.put(body.getOid(), portalId);
+        // small optimization: don't save portalId -1, because it simply means
+        // "use the default entrance" and retrieving an unset value will
+        // return -1 anyway
+        if (portalId != -1) {
+            _enterers.put(body.getOid(), portalId);
+        }
     }
 
     /**