diff --git a/src/Features/ChallengeMode.cpp b/src/Features/ChallengeMode.cpp
index 910cc0fa..0869bf3d 100644
--- a/src/Features/ChallengeMode.cpp
+++ b/src/Features/ChallengeMode.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,14 @@
 
 ChallengeMode *cm;
 
+bool ChallengeMode::EnsureStatsController() {
+	if (entityList->GetEntityInfoByClassName("portal_stats_controller")) {
+		return true;
+	}
+
+	return server->Create && server->Create("portal_stats_controller", {0, 0, 0}, {0, 0, 0}, nullptr);
+}
+
 void ChallengeMode::CreateNode() {
 	if (!sv_bonus_challenge.GetBool() || engine->demoplayer->IsPlaying()) {
 		return;
diff --git a/src/Features/ChallengeMode.hpp b/src/Features/ChallengeMode.hpp
index 6a230049..ea68742d 100644
--- a/src/Features/ChallengeMode.hpp
+++ b/src/Features/ChallengeMode.hpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class ChallengeMode : public Feature {
 
 public:
 	void CreateNode();
+	bool EnsureStatsController();
 	void LoadNodes(SourceGameVersion version);
 };
 
diff --git a/src/Modules/Server.cpp b/src/Modules/Server.cpp
index 12634d6c..94d9f74a 100644
--- a/src/Modules/Server.cpp
+++ b/src/Modules/Server.cpp
@@ -616,6 +616,26 @@ static void __cdecl AcceptInput_Hook(void *thisptr, const char *inputName, void
 		console->Print("%.4d %s.%s(%s)\n", session->GetTick(), entName, inputName, parameter.ToString());
 	}
 
+	if (sar.game->Is(SourceGame_PortalStoriesMel)
+		&& client->GetChallengeStatus() == CMStatus::CHALLENGE
+		&& !engine->demoplayer->IsPlaying()
+		&& (!strcasecmp(className, "point_clientcommand") || !strcasecmp(className, "point_servercommand"))
+		&& !strcasecmp(inputName, "Command")) {
+		const char *command = parameter.ToString();
+		command += strspn(command, " \t\r\n");
+		if (!strncasecmp(command, "changelevel", 11) && strspn(command + 11, " \t\r\n") > 0) {
+			if (cm->EnsureStatsController()) {
+				// Complete after the map's fade, replacing the changelevel command entirely.
+				// RunScriptCode is a base entity input; queue OnLevelEnd so it reaches our hook.
+				inputName = "RunScriptCode";
+				parameter.fieldType = FIELD_STRING;
+				parameter.iszVal = "EntFire(\"portal_stats_controller\", \"OnLevelEnd\", 5.0, 0);";
+			} else {
+				console->Print("Could not obtain portal_stats_controller; keeping Mel's original elevator transition.\n");
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	// HACKHACK
 	// Deals with maps where you hit a normal transition trigger
 	if (!strcmp(className, "portal_stats_controller") && !strcmp(inputName, "OnLevelEnd") && client->GetChallengeStatus() == CMStatus::CHALLENGE) {
diff --git a/src/Utils.hpp b/src/Utils.hpp
index b1d44956..4ec6e5b1 100644
--- a/src/Utils.hpp
+++ b/src/Utils.hpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #	include <Windows.h>
 #	define strdup _strdup
 #	define strcasecmp _stricmp
+#	define strncasecmp _strnicmp
 #else
 #	include <unistd.h>
 #endif