diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
index be82fa34..c21aab9d 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/parlor/game/server/GameManager.java
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ public class GameManager extends PlaceManager
     public boolean startGame ()
     {
         // complain if we're already started
-        if (_gameobj.isInPlay()) {
+        if (_gameobj.state == GameObject.IN_PLAY) {
             log.warning("Requested to start an already in-play game [game=" + where() + "].");
             Thread.dumpStack();
             return false;
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ public class GameManager extends PlaceManager
      */
     protected void announcePlayerGameOver (int pidx)
     {
-        systemMessage(GAME_MESSAGE_BUNDLE, 
+        systemMessage(GAME_MESSAGE_BUNDLE,
             MessageBundle.tcompose(getPlayerGameOverMessage(pidx), getPlayerName(pidx)));
     }