diff --git a/tools/quake3/q3map2/light.c b/tools/quake3/q3map2/light.c
index 3d9adb27..5ae91ab7 100644
--- a/tools/quake3/q3map2/light.c
+++ b/tools/quake3/q3map2/light.c
@@ -1861,10 +1861,6 @@ void LightWorld( bool fastAllocate ){
 		SmoothNormals();
 	}
 
-	/* determine the number of grid points */
-	Sys_Printf( "--- SetupGrid ---\n" );
-	SetupGrid();
-
 	/* find the optional minimum lighting values */
 	GetVectorForKey( &entities[ 0 ], "_color", color );
 	if ( colorsRGB ) {
@@ -1904,6 +1900,10 @@ void LightWorld( bool fastAllocate ){
 		maxLight = f > 255? 255 : f < 0? 0 : f;
 	}
 
+	/* determine the number of grid points */
+	Sys_Printf( "--- SetupGrid ---\n" );
+	SetupGrid(); // uses ambientColor read above
+
 	/* create world lights */
 	Sys_FPrintf( SYS_VRB, "--- CreateLights ---\n" );
 	CreateEntityLights();