diff --git a/src/mudlib/zmachine/quetzal.py b/src/mudlib/zmachine/quetzal.py
index 730eb9d..19e3dd8 100644
--- a/src/mudlib/zmachine/quetzal.py
+++ b/src/mudlib/zmachine/quetzal.py
@@ -214,13 +214,16 @@ class QuetzalParser:
             evalstack_size = (bytes[ptr] << 8) + bytes[ptr + 1]
             ptr += 2
 
-            # read anywhere from 0 to 15 local vars
+            # read anywhere from 0 to 15 local vars, pad to 15
+            num_locals = flags_bitfield[0:4]
             local_vars = []
-            for _i in range(flags_bitfield[0:4]):
+            for _i in range(num_locals):
                 var = (bytes[ptr] << 8) + bytes[ptr + 1]
                 ptr += 2
                 local_vars.append(var)
-            log(f"    Found {len(local_vars)} local vars")
+            # runtime expects 15 slots, save only stores declared count
+            local_vars.extend([0] * (15 - num_locals))
+            log(f"    Found {num_locals} local vars (padded to 15)")
 
             # least recent to most recent stack values:
             stack_values = []