diff --git a/code/qcommon/vm.c b/code/qcommon/vm.c
index a7f86ab7..8cd3062d 100644
--- a/code/qcommon/vm.c
+++ b/code/qcommon/vm.c
@@ -484,7 +484,8 @@ vm_t *VM_Create( const char *module, int (*systemCalls)(int *),
 		}
 	}
 
-	if ( interpret == VMI_NATIVE ) {
+	// always try dll first? -- ln
+	if ( 1 || interpret == VMI_NATIVE ) {
 		// try to load as a system dll
 		Com_Printf( "Loading dll file %s.\n", vm->name );
 		vm->dllHandle = Sys_LoadDll( module, vm->fqpath , &vm->entryPoint, VM_DllSyscall );
diff --git a/code/unix/unix_main.c b/code/unix/unix_main.c
index 4671f6d0..e7676c6b 100644
--- a/code/unix/unix_main.c
+++ b/code/unix/unix_main.c
@@ -775,7 +775,8 @@ void *Sys_LoadDll( const char *name, char *fqpath ,
 
       if ( !libHandle )
       {
-#ifndef NDEBUG // bk001206 - in debug abort on failure
+#if 0 // don't abort -- ln
+//#ifndef NDEBUG // bk001206 - in debug abort on failure
         Com_Error ( ERR_FATAL, "Sys_LoadDll(%s) failed dlopen() completely!\n", name  );
 #else
         Com_Printf ( "Sys_LoadDll(%s) failed dlopen() completely!\n", name );