diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
index 2e11ba8a96cb..2b9812abade4 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/ticker.dm
@@ -172,7 +172,27 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(ticker)
 
 	CHECK_TICK
 	if(!mode.can_start(bypass_checks))
-		to_chat(world, "Reverting to pre-game lobby.")
+		to_chat(world, "Requirements to start [GLOB.master_mode] not met. Reverting to pre-game lobby.")
+		// Make only one more attempt
+		if(world.time - 2 * wait > CONFIG_GET(number/lobby_countdown) SECONDS)
+			flash_clients()
+			delay_start = TRUE
+			var/active_admins = 0
+			for(var/client/admin_client in GLOB.admins)
+				if(!admin_client.is_afk() && check_client_rights(admin_client, R_SERVER, FALSE))
+					active_admins = TRUE
+					break
+			if(active_admins)
+				to_chat(world, SPAN_CENTERBOLD("The game start has been delayed."))
+				message_admins(SPAN_ADMINNOTICE("Alert: Insufficent players ready to start [GLOB.master_mode].\nEither change mode and map or start round and bypass checks."))
+			else
+				var/fallback_mode = CONFIG_GET(string/gamemode_default)
+				SSticker.save_mode(fallback_mode)
+				GLOB.master_mode = fallback_mode
+				to_chat(world, SPAN_BOLDNOTICE("Notice: The Gamemode for next round has been set to [fallback_mode]"))
+				handle_map_reboot()
+		else
+			to_chat(world, "Attempting again...")
 		QDEL_NULL(mode)
 		GLOB.RoleAuthority.reset_roles()
 		return FALSE
diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
index 104bb838bbcf..6188e38e8d60 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/vote.dm
@@ -273,12 +273,14 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(vote)
 				question = "Gamemode vote"
 				randomize_entries = TRUE
 				for(var/mode_type in config.gamemode_cache)
-					var/datum/game_mode/M = mode_type
-					if(initial(M.config_tag))
-						var/vote_cycle_met = !initial(M.vote_cycle) || (text2num(SSperf_logging?.round?.id) % initial(M.vote_cycle) == 0)
-						var/min_players_met = length(GLOB.clients) >= M.required_players
-						if(initial(M.votable) && vote_cycle_met && min_players_met)
-							choices += initial(M.config_tag)
+					var/datum/game_mode/cur_mode = mode_type
+					if(initial(cur_mode.config_tag))
+						cur_mode = new mode_type
+						var/vote_cycle_met = !initial(cur_mode.vote_cycle) || (text2num(SSperf_logging?.round?.id) % initial(cur_mode.vote_cycle) == 0)
+						var/min_players_met = length(GLOB.clients) >= cur_mode.required_players
+						if(initial(cur_mode.votable) && vote_cycle_met && min_players_met)
+							choices += initial(cur_mode.config_tag)
+						qdel(cur_mode)
 			if("groundmap")
 				question = "Ground map vote"
 				vote_sound = 'sound/voice/start_your_voting.ogg'
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/cm_initialize.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/cm_initialize.dm
index c017733de7fd..78866e230dce 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/cm_initialize.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/cm_initialize.dm
@@ -259,10 +259,10 @@ Additional game mode variables.
 
 //If we are selecting xenomorphs, we NEED them to play the round. This is the expected behavior.
 //If this is an optional behavior, just override this proc or make an override here.
-/datum/game_mode/proc/initialize_starting_xenomorph_list(list/hives = list(XENO_HIVE_NORMAL), force_xenos = FALSE)
+/datum/game_mode/proc/initialize_starting_xenomorph_list(list/hives = list(XENO_HIVE_NORMAL), bypass_checks = FALSE)
 	var/list/datum/mind/possible_xenomorphs = get_players_for_role(JOB_XENOMORPH)
 	var/list/datum/mind/possible_queens = get_players_for_role(JOB_XENOMORPH_QUEEN)
-	if(possible_xenomorphs.len < xeno_required_num) //We don't have enough aliens, we don't consider people rolling for only Queen.
+	if(possible_xenomorphs.len < xeno_required_num && !bypass_checks) //We don't have enough aliens, we don't consider people rolling for only Queen.
 		to_world("<h2 style=\"color:red\">Not enough players have chosen to be a xenomorph in their character setup. <b>Aborting</b>.</h2>")
 		return
 
@@ -325,11 +325,11 @@ Additional game mode variables.
 	Our list is empty. This can happen if we had someone ready as alien and predator, and predators are picked first.
 	So they may have been removed from the list, oh well.
 	*/
-	if(LAZYLEN(xenomorphs) < xeno_required_num && LAZYLEN(picked_queens) != LAZYLEN(hives))
+	if(LAZYLEN(xenomorphs) < xeno_required_num && LAZYLEN(picked_queens) != LAZYLEN(hives) && !bypass_checks)
 		to_world("<h2 style=\"color:red\">Could not find any candidates after initial alien list pass. <b>Aborting</b>.</h2>")
 		return
 
-	return 1
+	return TRUE
 
 // Helper proc to set some constants
 /proc/setup_new_xeno(datum/mind/new_xeno)
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/colonialmarines.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/colonialmarines.dm
index f64c2432486b..7b9103385aa5 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/colonialmarines.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/colonialmarines.dm
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 /* Pre-pre-startup */
-/datum/game_mode/colonialmarines/can_start()
+/datum/game_mode/colonialmarines/can_start(bypass_checks = FALSE)
 	initialize_special_clamps()
 	return TRUE
 
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/xenovsxeno.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/xenovsxeno.dm
index a9ad48196257..79754a6fff84 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/xenovsxeno.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/colonialmarines/xenovsxeno.dm
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@
 	votable = FALSE // broken
 
 /* Pre-pre-startup */
-/datum/game_mode/xenovs/can_start()
+/datum/game_mode/xenovs/can_start(bypass_checks = FALSE)
 	for(var/hivename in SSmapping.configs[GROUND_MAP].xvx_hives)
 		if(GLOB.readied_players > SSmapping.configs[GROUND_MAP].xvx_hives[hivename])
 			hives += hivename
 	xeno_starting_num = GLOB.readied_players
-	if(!initialize_starting_xenomorph_list(hives, TRUE))
+	if(!initialize_starting_xenomorph_list(hives, bypass_checks))
 		hives.Cut()
-		return
+		return FALSE
 	return TRUE
 
 /datum/game_mode/xenovs/announce()
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/extended/infection.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/extended/infection.dm
index 1e0032a8e6fa..cc74454d24ef 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/extended/infection.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/extended/infection.dm
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@
 		if(transform_survivor(survivor) == 1)
 			survivors -= survivor
 
-/datum/game_mode/infection/can_start()
+/datum/game_mode/infection/can_start(bypass_checks = FALSE)
 	initialize_starting_survivor_list()
-	return 1
+	return TRUE
 
 //We don't actually need survivors to play, so long as aliens are present.
 /datum/game_mode/infection/proc/initialize_starting_survivor_list()
diff --git a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
index 3bb8c2d80123..1803d7ac127c 100644
--- a/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
+++ b/code/game/gamemodes/game_mode.dm
@@ -50,19 +50,20 @@ GLOBAL_VAR_INIT(cas_tracking_id_increment, 0) //this var used to assign unique t
 
 ///can_start()
 ///Checks to see if the game can be setup and ran with the current number of players or whatnot.
-/datum/game_mode/proc/can_start()
-	var/playerC = 0
+/datum/game_mode/proc/can_start(bypass_checks = FALSE)
+	if(bypass_checks)
+		return TRUE
+	var/players = 0
 	for(var/mob/new_player/player in GLOB.new_player_list)
-		if((player.client)&&(player.ready))
-			playerC++
-
-	if(GLOB.master_mode=="secret")
-		if(playerC >= required_players_secret)
-			return 1
+		if(player.client && player.ready)
+			players++
+	if(GLOB.master_mode == "secret")
+		if(players >= required_players_secret)
+			return TRUE
 	else
-		if(playerC >= required_players)
-			return 1
-	return 0
+		if(players >= required_players)
+			return TRUE
+	return FALSE
 
 
 ///pre_setup()
diff --git a/code/modules/admin/tabs/round_tab.dm b/code/modules/admin/tabs/round_tab.dm
index 39a9050053f1..4a993459e7d1 100644
--- a/code/modules/admin/tabs/round_tab.dm
+++ b/code/modules/admin/tabs/round_tab.dm
@@ -169,8 +169,10 @@
 	set name = "Start Round"
 	set desc = "Start the round RIGHT NOW"
 	set category = "Server.Round"
-	if (alert("Are you sure you want to start the round early?",,"Yes","No") != "Yes")
-		return
+	var/response = tgui_alert(usr, "Are you sure you want to start the round early?", "Force Start Round", list("Yes", "Bypass Checks", "No"), 30 SECONDS)
+	if (response != "Yes" && response != "Bypass Checks")
+		return FALSE
+	SSticker.bypass_checks = response == "Bypass Checks"
 	if (SSticker.current_state == GAME_STATE_STARTUP)
 		message_admins("Game is setting up and will launch as soon as it is ready.")
 		message_admins(SPAN_ADMINNOTICE("[usr.key] has started the process to start the game when loading is finished."))