diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/Player.cpp b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/Player.cpp
index 5319f4d3..0af3d7a5 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/Player.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/Player.cpp
@@ -356,17 +356,6 @@ void Core::Entity::Player::returnToHomepoint()
 
 void Core::Entity::Player::setZone( uint32_t zoneId )
 {
-   if( !g_territoryMgr.movePlayer( zoneId, getAsPlayer() ) )
-   {
-      // todo: this will require proper handling, for now just return the player to their previous area
-      m_pos = m_prevPos;
-      m_rot = m_prevRot;
-      m_zoneId = m_prevZoneId;
-
-      if( !g_territoryMgr.movePlayer( m_zoneId, getAsPlayer() ) )
-         return;
-   }
-
    sendZonePackets();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/PlayerSql.cpp b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/PlayerSql.cpp
index fbf2f60c..22e13f54 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/PlayerSql.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Actor/PlayerSql.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,40 @@ bool Core::Entity::Player::load( uint32_t charId, SessionPtr pSession )
    m_prevZoneId = res->getUInt( "OTerritoryId" );
    m_prevZoneType = res->getUInt( "OTerritoryType" );
 
-   ZonePtr pCurrZone = g_territoryMgr.getZoneByTerriId( zoneId );
+   // Position
+   m_pos.x = res->getFloat( "PosX" );
+   m_pos.y = res->getFloat( "PosY" );
+   m_pos.z = res->getFloat( "PosZ" );
+   setRotation( res->getFloat( "PosR" ) );
+
+   m_prevPos.x = res->getFloat( "OPosX" );
+   m_prevPos.y = res->getFloat( "OPosY" );
+   m_prevPos.z = res->getFloat( "OPosZ" );
+   m_prevRot = res->getFloat( "OPosR" );
+
+   ZonePtr pCurrZone = nullptr;
+
+   // if the zone is an instanceContent zone, we need to actually find the instance
+   if( g_territoryMgr.isInstanceContentTerritory( zoneId ) )
+   {
+      // try to find an instance actually linked to this player
+      pCurrZone = g_territoryMgr.getLinkedInstance( m_id );
+      // if none found, revert to previous zone and position
+      if( !pCurrZone )
+      {
+         zoneId = m_prevZoneId;
+         m_pos.x = m_prevPos.x;
+         m_pos.y = m_prevPos.y;
+         m_pos.z = m_prevPos.z;
+         setRotation( m_prevRot );
+         pCurrZone = g_territoryMgr.getZoneByTerriId( zoneId );
+      }
+   }
+   else
+   {
+      pCurrZone = g_territoryMgr.getZoneByTerriId( zoneId );
+   }
+
    m_zoneId = zoneId;
 
    // TODO: logic for instances needs to be added here
@@ -86,20 +119,8 @@ bool Core::Entity::Player::load( uint32_t charId, SessionPtr pSession )
    m_mp = res->getUInt( "Mp" );
    m_tp = 0;
 
-   // Position
-
-   m_pos.x = res->getFloat( "PosX" );
-   m_pos.y = res->getFloat( "PosY" );
-   m_pos.z = res->getFloat( "PosZ" );
-   setRotation( res->getFloat( "PosR" ) );
-
-   m_prevPos.x = res->getFloat( "OPosX" );
-   m_prevPos.y = res->getFloat( "OPosY" );
-   m_prevPos.z = res->getFloat( "OPosZ" );
-   m_prevRot = res->getFloat( "OPosR" );
 
    // Model
-
    auto custom = res->getBlobVector( "Customize" );
    memcpy( reinterpret_cast< char* >( m_customize ), custom.data(), custom.size() );
 
@@ -219,6 +240,9 @@ bool Core::Entity::Player::load( uint32_t charId, SessionPtr pSession )
    if( !m_playerIdToSpawnIdMap.empty() )
       m_playerIdToSpawnIdMap.clear();
 
+   if( !g_territoryMgr.movePlayer( pCurrZone, getAsPlayer() ) )
+      return false;
+
    return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.cpp b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.cpp
index eab7bddb..13421e94 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.cpp
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.cpp
@@ -302,25 +302,7 @@ Core::TerritoryMgr::InstanceIdList Core::TerritoryMgr::getInstanceContentIdList(
 bool Core::TerritoryMgr::movePlayer( uint32_t territoryId, Core::Entity::PlayerPtr pPlayer )
 {
    auto pZone = getZoneByTerriId( territoryId );
-
-   if( !pZone  )
-   {
-      g_log.error( "Zone " + std::to_string( territoryId ) + " not found on this server." );
-      return false;
-   }
-
-   pPlayer->setTerritoryId( territoryId );
-
-   // mark character as zoning in progress
-   pPlayer->setLoadingComplete( false );
-
-   if( pPlayer->getLastPing() != 0 )
-      pPlayer->getCurrentZone()->removeActor( pPlayer );
-
-   pPlayer->setCurrentZone( pZone );
-   pZone->pushActor( pPlayer );
-
-   return true;
+   return movePlayer( pZone, pPlayer );
 }
 
 bool Core::TerritoryMgr::movePlayer( ZonePtr pZone, Core::Entity::PlayerPtr pPlayer )
@@ -342,8 +324,21 @@ bool Core::TerritoryMgr::movePlayer( ZonePtr pZone, Core::Entity::PlayerPtr pPla
    pPlayer->setCurrentZone( pZone );
    pZone->pushActor( pPlayer );
 
+   // map player to instanceId so it can be tracked.
+   m_playerIdToInstanceMap[pPlayer->getId()] = pZone->getGuId();
+
    return true;
 }
 
+Core::ZonePtr Core::TerritoryMgr::getLinkedInstance( uint32_t playerId ) const
+{
+   auto it = m_playerIdToInstanceMap.find( playerId );
+   if( it != m_playerIdToInstanceMap.end() )
+   {
+      return getInstanceZonePtr( it->second );
+   }
+   return nullptr;
+}
+
 
 
diff --git a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.h b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.h
index 1984faca..b7cdcf3c 100644
--- a/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.h
+++ b/src/servers/sapphire_zone/Zone/TerritoryMgr.h
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ namespace Core
           TODO: Mind multiple instances?! */
       ZonePtr getZoneByTerriId( uint32_t territoryId ) const;
 
-
       bool movePlayer( uint32_t territoryId, Entity::PlayerPtr pPlayer );
       bool movePlayer( ZonePtr, Entity::PlayerPtr pPlayer );
 
+      /*! returns an instancePtr if the player is still bound to an isntance */
+      ZonePtr getLinkedInstance( uint32_t playerId ) const;
+
    private:
       using TerritoryTypeDetailCache = std::unordered_map< uint16_t, Data::TerritoryTypePtr >;
       using InstanceIdToZonePtrMap = std::unordered_map< uint32_t, ZonePtr >;
@@ -137,6 +139,9 @@ namespace Core
       /*! map holding positions for zonelines */
       PositionMap m_territoryPositionMap;
 
+      /*! map storing playerIds to instanceIds, used for instanceContent */
+      PlayerIdToInstanceIdMap m_playerIdToInstanceMap;
+
       /*! internal counter for instanceIds */
       uint32_t m_lastInstanceId;