diff --git a/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/CraftWorld.java b/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/CraftWorld.java
index 902b92cc3f..dbdd93e978 100644
--- a/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/CraftWorld.java
+++ b/paper-server/src/main/java/org/bukkit/craftbukkit/CraftWorld.java
@@ -1501,7 +1501,7 @@ public class CraftWorld extends CraftRegionAccessor implements World {
         Validate.notNull(spawnCategory, "SpawnCategory cannot be null");
         Validate.isTrue(CraftSpawnCategory.isValidForLimits(spawnCategory), "SpawnCategory." + spawnCategory + " are not supported.");
 
-        int limit = spawnCategoryLimit.getInt(spawnCategory);
+        int limit = spawnCategoryLimit.getOrDefault(spawnCategory, -1);
         if (limit < 0) {
             limit = server.getSpawnLimit(spawnCategory);
         }