diff --git a/engine/gl/gl_alias.c b/engine/gl/gl_alias.c
index 708938cd0..36cd613e0 100644
--- a/engine/gl/gl_alias.c
+++ b/engine/gl/gl_alias.c
@@ -3347,7 +3347,7 @@ qboolean GL_LoadQ1Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	version = pq1inmodel->version;
 	if (version != ALIAS_VERSION)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)",
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)\n",
 				 mod->name, version, ALIAS_VERSION);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -3613,7 +3613,7 @@ qboolean GL_LoadQ2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	version = LittleLong (pq2inmodel->version);
 	if (version != MD2ALIAS_VERSION)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)",
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)\n",
 				 mod->name, version, MD2ALIAS_VERSION);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -4658,13 +4658,13 @@ qboolean GLMod_LoadZymoticModel(model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	}
 	if (intrans != (zymvertex_t *)((char*)header + header->lump_verts.start))
 	{
-		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, Vertex transforms list appears corrupt.", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, Vertex transforms list appears corrupt.\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(hunkstart);
 		return false;
 	}
 	if (vertbonecounts != (int *)((char*)header + header->lump_vertbonecounts.start))
 	{
-		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, Vertex bone counts list appears corrupt.", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, Vertex bone counts list appears corrupt.\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(hunkstart);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -4700,7 +4700,7 @@ qboolean GLMod_LoadZymoticModel(model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	}
 	if (renderlist != (int*)((char*)header + header->lump_render.start + header->lump_render.length))
 	{
-		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, render list appears corrupt.", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, render list appears corrupt.\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(hunkstart);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -4767,7 +4767,7 @@ qboolean GLMod_LoadZymoticModel(model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (inscene != (zymscene_t*)((char*)header + header->lump_scenes.start+header->lump_scenes.length))
 	{
-		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, scene list appears corrupt.", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, scene list appears corrupt.\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(hunkstart);
 		return false;
 	}
diff --git a/engine/gl/gl_heightmap.c b/engine/gl/gl_heightmap.c
index 6d431a90c..4de634009 100644
--- a/engine/gl/gl_heightmap.c
+++ b/engine/gl/gl_heightmap.c
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ int	Heightmap_LeafForPoint	(model_t *model, vec3_t point)
 
 //Heightmap_NativeBoxContents
 
-void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
+qboolean GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 {
 	heightmap_t *hm;
 	unsigned short *heightmap;
@@ -648,7 +648,10 @@ void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	buffer = COM_Parse(buffer);
 	if (strcmp(com_token, "terrain"))
-		Sys_Error("Wasn't terrain map");	//shouldn't happen
+	{
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s wasn't terrain map\n", mod->name);	//shouldn't happen
+		return false;
+	}
 	for(;;)
 	{
 		buffer = COM_Parse(buffer);
@@ -711,11 +714,17 @@ void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 			numsegs = atoi(com_token);
 		}
 		else
-			Sys_Error("Unrecognised token in terrain map\n");
+		{
+			Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, unrecognised token in terrain map\n", mod->name);
+			return false;
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (numsegs > SECTIONS)
-		Sys_Error("Heightmap uses too many sections max is %i\n", SECTIONS);
+	{
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, heightmap uses too many sections max is %i\n", mod->name, SECTIONS);
+		return false;
+	}
 
 
 	mod->type = mod_heightmap;
@@ -724,7 +733,10 @@ void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	size = sqrt(com_filesize/2);
 	if (size % numsegs)
-		Sys_Error("Heightmap is not a multiple of %i\n", numsegs);
+	{
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "%s, heightmap is not a multiple of %i\n", mod->name, numsegs);
+		return false;
+	}
 
 	hm = Hunk_Alloc(sizeof(*hm) + com_filesize);
 	memset(hm, 0, sizeof(*hm));
@@ -780,5 +792,7 @@ void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 */
 
 	mod->terrain = hm;
+
+	return true;
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/engine/gl/gl_hlmdl.c b/engine/gl/gl_hlmdl.c
index 06ea3595f..84b177ae0 100644
--- a/engine/gl/gl_hlmdl.c
+++ b/engine/gl/gl_hlmdl.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ void GL_Draw_HL_AliasFrame(short *order, vec3_t *transformed, float tex_w, float
  =======================================================================================================================
  */
 extern char loadname[];
-void Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
+qboolean Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 {
     /*~~*/
     int i;
@@ -127,7 +127,11 @@ void Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	memcpy(header, buffer, com_filesize);
 
 	if (header->version != 10)
-		Host_EndGame("Cannot load model %s - unknown version %i\n", mod->name, header->version);
+	{
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "Cannot load model %s - unknown version %i\n", mod->name, header->version);
+		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
+		return false;
+	}
 
     tex = (hlmdl_tex_t *) ((qbyte *) header + header->textures);
     bones = (hlmdl_bone_t *) ((qbyte *) header + header->boneindex);
@@ -170,10 +174,11 @@ void Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	
 	Cache_Alloc (&mod->cache, total, loadname);
 	if (!mod->cache.data)
-		return;
+		return false;
 	memcpy (mod->cache.data, model, total);
 
 	Hunk_FreeToLowMark (start);
+	return true;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/engine/gl/gl_model.c b/engine/gl/gl_model.c
index 93daa4b14..6c1263de6 100644
--- a/engine/gl/gl_model.c
+++ b/engine/gl/gl_model.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ extern char	loadname[32];	// for hunk tags
 void CM_Init(void);
 
 void GLMod_LoadCompositeAnim(model_t *mod, void *buffer);
-void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
+qboolean GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 qboolean GLMod_LoadDarkPlacesModel(model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 void GLMod_LoadSpriteModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 void GLMod_LoadSprite2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
@@ -55,9 +55,7 @@ void GLMod_LoadBrushModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 #ifdef Q2BSPS
 void Mod_LoadQ2BrushModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 #endif
-void Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
-void Mod_LoadAlias3Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
-void Mod_LoadGroupModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
+qboolean Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 #ifdef ZYMOTICMODELS
 qboolean GLMod_LoadZymoticModel(model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 #endif
@@ -563,7 +561,8 @@ couldntload:
 #endif
 #ifdef HALFLIFEMODELS
 	case (('T'<<24)+('S'<<16)+('D'<<8)+'I'):
-		Mod_LoadHLModel (mod, buf);
+		if (!Mod_LoadHLModel (mod, buf))
+			goto couldntload;
 		break;
 #endif
 #ifdef TERRAINMAPS
@@ -611,7 +610,8 @@ couldntload:
 #ifdef TERRAIN
 		if (!strcmp(com_token, "terrain"))
 		{
-			GL_LoadHeightmapModel(mod, buf);
+			if (!GL_LoadHeightmapModel(mod, buf))
+				goto couldntload;
 			break;
 		}
 #endif
diff --git a/engine/gl/glquake.h b/engine/gl/glquake.h
index f3c93aa19..33a458358 100644
--- a/engine/gl/glquake.h
+++ b/engine/gl/glquake.h
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ void GLQ3_LightGrid(vec3_t point, vec3_t res_diffuse, vec3_t res_ambient, vec3_t
 
 //gl_heightmap.c
 void GL_DrawHeightmapModel (entity_t *e);
-void GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
+qboolean GL_LoadHeightmapModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 
 //gl_bloom.c
 void R_BloomRegister(void);
diff --git a/engine/gl/model_hl.h b/engine/gl/model_hl.h
index aaec23f4e..fd5b76ba4 100644
--- a/engine/gl/model_hl.h
+++ b/engine/gl/model_hl.h
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ void	QuaternionGLMatrix(float x, float y, float z, float w, vec4_t *GLM);
 //void	UploadTexture(hlmdl_tex_t *ptexture, qbyte *data, qbyte *pal);
 
 /* HL drawing */
-void Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
+qboolean Mod_LoadHLModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer);
 int	HL_CurSequence(hlmodel_t model);
 int	HL_NewSequence(hlmodel_t * model, int _inew);
 void	HL_SetController(hlmodel_t *model, int num, float value);
diff --git a/engine/sw/sw_model.c b/engine/sw/sw_model.c
index a2462d286..8ef8a3115 100644
--- a/engine/sw/sw_model.c
+++ b/engine/sw/sw_model.c
@@ -410,7 +410,9 @@ model_t *SWMod_LoadModel (model_t *mod, qboolean crash)
 		break;
 
 	default:	//some telejano mods can do this
+		Con_Printf(S_ERROR "model %s, unrecognized format %i\n", mod->name, LittleLong(*(unsigned *)buf));
 couldntload:
+
 		if (crash)
 			Sys_Error ("Mod_NumForName: %s not found", mod->name);
 
@@ -2307,7 +2309,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAliasModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	version = LittleLong (pinmodel->version);
 	if (version != ALIAS_VERSION)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)",
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)\n",
 				 mod->name, version, ALIAS_VERSION);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2341,7 +2343,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAliasModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	if (pmodel->skinheight > MAX_LBM_HEIGHT)
 	{
 		// TODO: at least downsize the skin
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d", mod->name,
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d\n", mod->name,
 				   MAX_LBM_HEIGHT);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
@@ -2351,14 +2353,14 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAliasModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->numverts <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (pmodel->numverts > MAXALIASVERTS)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2367,7 +2369,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAliasModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->numtris <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2389,7 +2391,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAliasModel (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->skinwidth & 0x03)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: \"%s\" skinwidth not multiple of 4", loadmodel->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: \"%s\" skinwidth not multiple of 4\n", loadmodel->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2624,7 +2626,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 	version = LittleLong (pinmodel->version);
 	if (version != MD2ALIAS_VERSION)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)",
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "%s has wrong version number (%i should be %i)\n",
 				 mod->name, version, MD2ALIAS_VERSION);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2656,7 +2658,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->skinheight > MAX_LBM_HEIGHT)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d", mod->name,
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d\n", mod->name,
 				   MAX_LBM_HEIGHT);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
@@ -2667,14 +2669,14 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->numverts <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (pmodel->numverts > MAXALIASVERTS)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2683,7 +2685,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->numtris <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -2705,7 +2707,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias2Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->skinwidth & 0x03)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: %s, skinwidth not multiple of 4", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: %s, skinwidth not multiple of 4\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -3076,7 +3078,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias3Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->skinheight > MAX_LBM_HEIGHT)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d", mod->name,
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has a skin taller than %d\n", mod->name,
 				   MAX_LBM_HEIGHT);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
@@ -3087,14 +3089,14 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias3Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (surface->numVerts <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
 
 	if (pmodel->numverts > MAXALIASVERTS)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has too many vertices\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -3103,7 +3105,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias3Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->numtris <= 0)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "model %s has no triangles\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}
@@ -3221,7 +3223,7 @@ qboolean SWMod_LoadAlias3Model (model_t *mod, void *buffer)
 
 	if (pmodel->skinwidth & 0x03)
 	{
-		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: %s, skinwidth not multiple of 4", mod->name);
+		Con_Printf (S_ERROR "Mod_LoadAliasModel: %s, skinwidth not multiple of 4\n", mod->name);
 		Hunk_FreeToLowMark(start);
 		return false;
 	}