diff --git a/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp b/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp
index e5a3b970..fc6cfa92 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.cpp
@@ -473,7 +473,9 @@ void FILESYSTEM_loadZip(const char* filename)
 	}
 }
 
-void FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char* path)
+void FILESYSTEM_unmountAssets(void);
+
+bool FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char* path)
 {
 	char filename[MAX_PATH];
 	char zip_data[MAX_PATH];
@@ -504,10 +506,10 @@ void FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char* path)
 
 		if (!FILESYSTEM_mountAssetsFrom(zip_data))
 		{
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		graphics.reloadresources();
+		MAYBE_FAIL(graphics.reloadresources());
 	}
 	else if (zip_normal != NULL && endsWith(zip_normal, ".zip"))
 	{
@@ -515,10 +517,10 @@ void FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char* path)
 
 		if (!FILESYSTEM_mountAssetsFrom(zip_normal))
 		{
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		graphics.reloadresources();
+		MAYBE_FAIL(graphics.reloadresources());
 	}
 	else if (FILESYSTEM_exists(dir))
 	{
@@ -526,15 +528,21 @@ void FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char* path)
 
 		if (!FILESYSTEM_mountAssetsFrom(dir))
 		{
-			return;
+			return false;
 		}
 
-		graphics.reloadresources();
+		MAYBE_FAIL(graphics.reloadresources());
 	}
 	else
 	{
 		puts("Custom asset directory does not exist");
 	}
+
+	return true;
+
+fail:
+	FILESYSTEM_unmountAssets();
+	return false;
 }
 
 void FILESYSTEM_unmountAssets(void)
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.h b/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.h
index 0074df30..6bb90fb3 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/FileSystemUtils.h
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ bool FILESYSTEM_isFile(const char* filename);
 bool FILESYSTEM_isMounted(const char* filename);
 
 void FILESYSTEM_loadZip(const char* filename);
-void FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char *path);
+bool FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(const char *path);
 void FILESYSTEM_unmountAssets(void);
 bool FILESYSTEM_isAssetMounted(const char* filename);
 
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
index 506a3591..645f4d0d 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.cpp
@@ -6477,6 +6477,9 @@ void Game::createmenu( enum Menu::MenuName t, bool samemenu/*= false*/ )
         option("silence");
         menuyoff = 10;
         break;
+    case Menu::errorloadinglevel:
+        option("ok");
+        break;
     }
 
     // Automatically center the menu. We must check the width of the menu with the initial horizontal spacing.
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Game.h b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
index e1aa4ed2..7f7df630 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Game.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Game.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ namespace Menu
         youwannaquit,
         errornostart,
         errorsavingsettings,
+        errorloadinglevel,
         graphicoptions,
         ed_settings,
         ed_desc,
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Graphics.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Graphics.cpp
index 63927fe1..5cfc25f9 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Graphics.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Graphics.cpp
@@ -151,6 +151,9 @@ void Graphics::init(void)
     tiles2_mounted = false;
     minimap_mounted = false;
 #endif
+
+    SDL_zeroa(error);
+    SDL_zeroa(error_title);
 }
 
 void Graphics::destroy(void)
@@ -314,24 +317,15 @@ void Graphics::updatetitlecolours(void)
     else if (grphx.im_##tilesheet->w % tile_square != 0 \
     || grphx.im_##tilesheet->h % tile_square != 0) \
     { \
-        const char* error = "Error: %s.png dimensions not exact multiples of %i!"; \
-        char message[128]; \
-        const char* error_title = "Error with %s.png"; \
-        char message_title[128]; \
+        static const char error_fmt[] = "%s.png dimensions not exact multiples of %i!"; \
+        static const char error_title_fmt[] = "Error with %s.png"; \
         \
-        SDL_snprintf(message, sizeof(message), error, #tilesheet, tile_square); \
-        SDL_snprintf(message_title, sizeof(message_title), error_title, #tilesheet); \
+        SDL_snprintf(error, sizeof(error), error_fmt, #tilesheet, tile_square); \
+        SDL_snprintf(error_title, sizeof(error_title), error_title_fmt, #tilesheet); \
         \
-        puts(message); \
+        puts(error); \
         \
-        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox( \
-            SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR, \
-            message_title, \
-            message, \
-            NULL \
-        ); \
-        \
-        VVV_exit(1); \
+        return false; \
     }
 
 #define PROCESS_TILESHEET_RENAME(tilesheet, vector, tile_square, extra_code) \
@@ -363,7 +357,7 @@ void Graphics::updatetitlecolours(void)
 #define PROCESS_TILESHEET(tilesheet, tile_square, extra_code) \
     PROCESS_TILESHEET_RENAME(tilesheet, tilesheet, tile_square, extra_code)
 
-void Graphics::Makebfont(void)
+bool Graphics::Makebfont(void)
 {
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(bfont, 8,
     {
@@ -391,6 +385,8 @@ void Graphics::Makebfont(void)
     {
         font_positions.clear();
     }
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 int Graphics::bfontlen(uint32_t ch)
@@ -405,23 +401,29 @@ int Graphics::bfontlen(uint32_t ch)
     }
 }
 
-void Graphics::MakeTileArray(void)
+bool Graphics::MakeTileArray(void)
 {
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(tiles, 8, {})
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(tiles2, 8, {})
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(tiles3, 8, {})
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(entcolours, 8, {})
+
+    return true;
 }
 
-void Graphics::maketelearray(void)
+bool Graphics::maketelearray(void)
 {
     PROCESS_TILESHEET_RENAME(teleporter, tele, 96, {})
+
+    return true;
 }
 
-void Graphics::MakeSpriteArray(void)
+bool Graphics::MakeSpriteArray(void)
 {
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(sprites, 32, {})
     PROCESS_TILESHEET(flipsprites, 32, {})
+
+    return true;
 }
 
 #undef PROCESS_TILESHEET
@@ -3486,17 +3488,17 @@ bool Graphics::onscreen(int t)
 	return (t >= -40 && t <= 280);
 }
 
-void Graphics::reloadresources(void)
+bool Graphics::reloadresources(void)
 {
 	grphx.destroy();
 	grphx.init();
 
 	destroy();
 
-	MakeTileArray();
-	MakeSpriteArray();
-	maketelearray();
-	Makebfont();
+	MAYBE_FAIL(MakeTileArray());
+	MAYBE_FAIL(MakeSpriteArray());
+	MAYBE_FAIL(maketelearray());
+	MAYBE_FAIL(Makebfont());
 
 	images.clear();
 
@@ -3528,6 +3530,11 @@ void Graphics::reloadresources(void)
 	tiles2_mounted = FILESYSTEM_isAssetMounted("graphics/tiles2.png");
 	minimap_mounted = FILESYSTEM_isAssetMounted("graphics/minimap.png");
 #endif
+
+	return true;
+
+fail:
+	return false;
 }
 
 Uint32 Graphics::crewcolourreal(int t)
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Graphics.h b/desktop_version/src/Graphics.h
index 6e64e5d0..1ec6818d 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Graphics.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Graphics.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public:
 	int bfontlen(uint32_t ch);
 	int font_idx(uint32_t ch);
 
-	void Makebfont(void);
+	bool Makebfont(void);
 
 	void drawhuetile(int x, int y, int t);
 	void huetilesetcol(int t);
@@ -34,11 +34,11 @@ public:
 
 	void drawgravityline(int t);
 
-	void MakeTileArray(void);
+	bool MakeTileArray(void);
 
-	void MakeSpriteArray(void);
+	bool MakeSpriteArray(void);
 
-	void maketelearray(void);
+	bool maketelearray(void);
 
 	void drawcoloredtile(int x, int y, int t, int r, int g, int b);
 
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ public:
 
 	bool onscreen(int t);
 
-	void reloadresources(void);
+	bool reloadresources(void);
 #ifndef NO_CUSTOM_LEVELS
 	bool tiles1_mounted;
 	bool tiles2_mounted;
@@ -357,6 +357,9 @@ public:
 	bool kludgeswnlinewidth;
 
 	Uint32 crewcolourreal(int t);
+
+	char error[128];
+	char error_title[128]; /* for SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox */
 };
 
 #ifndef GRAPHICS_DEFINITION
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
index d61e0fb2..db850484 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Input.cpp
@@ -1727,6 +1727,11 @@ static void menuactionpress(void)
         game.returnmenu();
         map.nexttowercolour();
         break;
+    case Menu::errorloadinglevel:
+        music.playef(11);
+        game.returnmenu();
+        map.nexttowercolour();
+        break;
     default:
         break;
     }
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
index d94e4c8d..b5267606 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Render.cpp
@@ -1387,6 +1387,10 @@ static void menurender(void)
     case Menu::errorsavingsettings:
         graphics.Print( -1, 95, "ERROR: Could not save settings file!", tr, tg, tb, true);
         break;
+    case Menu::errorloadinglevel:
+        graphics.bigprint(-1, 45, "ERROR", tr, tg, tb, true);
+        graphics.PrintWrap(-1, 65, graphics.error, tr, tg, tb, true, 10, 304);
+        break;
     default:
         break;
     }
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/Script.cpp b/desktop_version/src/Script.cpp
index 36c72d18..85419341 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/Script.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/Script.cpp
@@ -2634,6 +2634,14 @@ void scriptclass::resetgametomenu(void)
 	game.createmenu(Menu::gameover);
 }
 
+static void gotoerrorloadinglevel(void)
+{
+	game.createmenu(Menu::errorloadinglevel);
+	graphics.fademode = 4; /* start fade in */
+	music.currentsong = -1; /* otherwise music.play won't work */
+	music.play(6); /* title screen music */
+}
+
 void scriptclass::startgamemode( int t )
 {
 	switch(t)
@@ -3152,7 +3160,11 @@ void scriptclass::startgamemode( int t )
 		//Initilise the level
 		//First up, find the start point
 		std::string filename = std::string(ed.ListOfMetaData[game.playcustomlevel].filename);
-		ed.load(filename);
+		if (!ed.load(filename))
+		{
+			gotoerrorloadinglevel();
+			break;
+		}
 		ed.findstartpoint();
 
 		game.gamestate = GAMEMODE;
@@ -3190,7 +3202,11 @@ void scriptclass::startgamemode( int t )
 		//Initilise the level
 		//First up, find the start point
 		std::string filename = std::string(ed.ListOfMetaData[game.playcustomlevel].filename);
-		ed.load(filename);
+		if (!ed.load(filename))
+		{
+			gotoerrorloadinglevel();
+			break;
+		}
 		ed.findstartpoint();
 
 		game.gamestate = GAMEMODE;
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/UtilityClass.h b/desktop_version/src/UtilityClass.h
index 01e8cd3c..b3b6af65 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/UtilityClass.h
+++ b/desktop_version/src/UtilityClass.h
@@ -78,6 +78,15 @@ void _VVV_between(
 #   define VVV_fallthrough do { } while (false) /* fallthrough */
 #endif
 
+#define MAYBE_FAIL(expr) \
+    do \
+    { \
+        if (!expr) \
+        { \
+            goto fail; \
+        } \
+    } \
+    while (false)
 
 //helperClass
 class UtilityClass
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/editor.cpp b/desktop_version/src/editor.cpp
index 03179b82..d26f6357 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/editor.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/editor.cpp
@@ -1748,6 +1748,11 @@ void editorclass::switch_enemy(const bool reversed /*= false*/)
 
 bool editorclass::load(std::string& _path)
 {
+    tinyxml2::XMLDocument doc;
+    tinyxml2::XMLHandle hDoc(&doc);
+    tinyxml2::XMLElement* pElem;
+    tinyxml2::XMLHandle hRoot(NULL);
+
     reset();
 
     static const char *levelDir = "levels/";
@@ -1759,14 +1764,13 @@ bool editorclass::load(std::string& _path)
     FILESYSTEM_unmountAssets();
     if (game.cliplaytest && game.playassets != "")
     {
-        FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(game.playassets.c_str());
+        MAYBE_FAIL(FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(game.playassets.c_str()));
     }
     else
     {
-        FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(_path.c_str());
+        MAYBE_FAIL(FILESYSTEM_mountAssets(_path.c_str()));
     }
 
-    tinyxml2::XMLDocument doc;
     if (!FILESYSTEM_loadTiXml2Document(_path.c_str(), doc))
     {
         printf("No level %s to load :(\n", _path.c_str());
@@ -1775,9 +1779,6 @@ bool editorclass::load(std::string& _path)
 
     loaded_filepath = _path;
 
-    tinyxml2::XMLHandle hDoc(&doc);
-    tinyxml2::XMLElement* pElem;
-    tinyxml2::XMLHandle hRoot(NULL);
     version = 0;
 
     {
@@ -2040,6 +2041,9 @@ next:
     version=2;
 
     return true;
+
+fail:
+    return false;
 }
 
 bool editorclass::save(std::string& _path)
diff --git a/desktop_version/src/main.cpp b/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
index af7af8c6..a384d534 100644
--- a/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
+++ b/desktop_version/src/main.cpp
@@ -483,7 +483,19 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     game.init();
 
     // This loads music too...
-    graphics.reloadresources();
+    if (!graphics.reloadresources())
+    {
+        /* Something wrong with the default assets? We can't use them to
+         * display the error message, and we have to bail. */
+        SDL_ShowSimpleMessageBox(
+            SDL_MESSAGEBOX_ERROR,
+            graphics.error_title,
+            graphics.error,
+            NULL
+        );
+
+        VVV_exit(1);
+    }
 
     game.gamestate = PRELOADER;