diff --git a/src/simulation/ElementDefs.h b/src/simulation/ElementDefs.h
index 10c2413f0..6b9ac045d 100644
--- a/src/simulation/ElementDefs.h
+++ b/src/simulation/ElementDefs.h
@@ -68,13 +68,6 @@
 
 #define PT_NUM	(1<<PMAPBITS)
 
-#if PMAPBITS > 16
-#error PMAPBITS is too large
-#endif
-#if ((XRES*YRES)<<PMAPBITS) > 0x100000000L
-#error not enough space in pmap
-#endif
-
 struct playerst;
 
 
diff --git a/src/simulation/Simulation.cpp b/src/simulation/Simulation.cpp
index dc0d6be02..d32f66728 100644
--- a/src/simulation/Simulation.cpp
+++ b/src/simulation/Simulation.cpp
@@ -5267,3 +5267,14 @@ float Simulation::remainder_p(float x, float y)
 {
 	return std::fmod(x, y) + (x>=0 ? 0 : y);
 }
+
+constexpr size_t ce_log2(size_t n)
+{
+	return ((n < 2) ? 1 : 1 + ce_log2(n / 2));
+}
+static_assert(PMAPBITS <= 16, "PMAPBITS is too large");
+// * This will technically fail in some cases where (XRES * YRES) << PMAPBITS would
+//   fit in 31 bits but multiplication is evil and wraps around without you knowing it.
+// * Whoever runs into a problem with this (e.g. with XRES = 612, YRES = 384 and
+//   PMAPBITS = 13) should just remove the check and take responsibility otherwise.
+static_assert(ce_log2(XRES) + ce_log2(YRES) + PMAPBITS <= 31, "not enough space in pmap");