diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
index a3162dd1c..dfbf99b8e 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/astub.c
@@ -9217,14 +9217,15 @@ int32_t loaddefinitions_game(const char *fn, int32_t preload)
     UNREFERENCED_PARAMETER(preload);
 
     script = scriptfile_fromfile(fn);
-    if (!script) return -1;
-
-    parsegroupfiles(script);
+    if (script)
+        parsegroupfiles(script);
 
     for (i=0; i < g_defModulesNum; ++i)
         parsegroupfiles_include(g_defModules[i], NULL, "null");
 
-    scriptfile_close(script);
+    if (script)
+        scriptfile_close(script);
+
     scriptfile_clearsymbols();
 
     return 0;
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
index 1d9a44300..399bffb09 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/game.c
@@ -9824,14 +9824,15 @@ int32_t loaddefinitions_game(const char *fn, int32_t preload)
     int32_t i;
 
     script = scriptfile_fromfile(fn);
-    if (!script) return -1;
-
-    parsedefinitions_game(script, preload);
+    if (script)
+        parsedefinitions_game(script, preload);
 
     for (i=0; i < g_defModulesNum; ++i)
         parsedefinitions_game_include(g_defModules[i], NULL, "null", preload);
 
-    scriptfile_close(script);
+    if (script)
+        scriptfile_close(script);
+
     scriptfile_clearsymbols();
 
     return 0;