diff --git a/soundlib/Load_xm.cpp b/soundlib/Load_xm.cpp
index b13143453..235e99d88 100644
--- a/soundlib/Load_xm.cpp
+++ b/soundlib/Load_xm.cpp
@@ -695,7 +695,15 @@ bool CSoundFile::ReadXM(FileReader &file, ModLoadingFlags loadFlags)
 	if(fileHeader.speed)
 		Order().SetDefaultSpeed(fileHeader.speed);
 	if(fileHeader.tempo)
-		Order().SetDefaultTempo(Clamp(TEMPO(fileHeader.tempo, 0), ModSpecs::xmEx.GetTempoMin(), ModSpecs::xmEx.GetTempoMax()));
+	{
+		// rewamp: keep the FULL 16-bit tempo range. FT2 accepts any 16-bit
+		// BPM (this file's own saver notes it below), and sample-precise
+		// tempo tricks rely on it — "Haesslich" declares 39293 BPM, which the
+		// ModSpecs clamp (max 1000) silently rewrote into a wrong-speed song.
+		// Playback is safe: the default tempo never passes through
+		// SetTempo(), and XM tempo EFFECTS are 8-bit anyway.
+		Order().SetDefaultTempo(Clamp(TEMPO(fileHeader.tempo, 0), ModSpecs::xmEx.GetTempoMin(), TEMPO(uint16_max, 0)));
+	}
 
 	m_SongFlags.reset();
 	m_SongFlags.set(SONG_LINEARSLIDES, (fileHeader.flags & XMFileHeader::linearSlides) != 0);