diff --git a/source/common/engine/i_interface.h b/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
index 80cc3b1e9..7bcdab763 100644
--- a/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
+++ b/source/common/engine/i_interface.h
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ struct SystemCallbacks
 	void (*MenuDim)();
 	FString(*GetPlayerName)(int i);
 	bool (*DispatchEvent)(event_t* ev);
+	bool (*CheckGame)(const char* nm);
+	int (*GetGender)();
 };
 
 extern SystemCallbacks sysCallbacks;
diff --git a/source/common/engine/stringtable.cpp b/source/common/engine/stringtable.cpp
index 8927011dc..56b5b6390 100644
--- a/source/common/engine/stringtable.cpp
+++ b/source/common/engine/stringtable.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 #include "filesystem.h"
 #include "sc_man.h"
 #include "printf.h"
+#include "i_interface.h"
 
 //==========================================================================
 //
@@ -237,12 +238,12 @@ bool FStringTable::ParseLanguageCSV(int lumpnum, const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer)
 				if (filterstr.IsNotEmpty())
 				{
 					bool ok = false;
-					if (callbacks && callbacks->ValidFilter)
+					if (sysCallbacks.CheckGame)
 					{
 						auto filter = filterstr.Split(" ", FString::TOK_SKIPEMPTY);
 						for (auto& entry : filter)
 						{
-							if (callbacks->ValidFilter(entry))
+							if (sysCallbacks.CheckGame(entry))
 							{
 								ok = true;
 								break;
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ void FStringTable::LoadLanguage (int lumpnum, const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer)
 				sc.MustGetStringName("ifgame");
 				sc.MustGetStringName("(");
 				sc.MustGetString();
-				skip |= (!callbacks || !callbacks->ValidFilter || !callbacks->ValidFilter(sc.String));
+				skip |= (!sysCallbacks.CheckGame || !sysCallbacks.CheckGame(sc.String));
 				sc.MustGetStringName(")");
 				sc.MustGetString();
 
@@ -564,7 +565,7 @@ const char *FStringTable::GetString(const char *name, uint32_t *langtable, int g
 	{
 		return nullptr;
 	}
-	if (gender == -1 && callbacks && callbacks->GetPlayerGender) gender = callbacks->GetPlayerGender();
+	if (gender == -1 && sysCallbacks.GetGender) gender = sysCallbacks.GetGender();
 	if (gender < 0 || gender > 3) gender = 0;
 	FName nm(name, true);
 	if (nm != NAME_None)
@@ -597,7 +598,7 @@ const char *FStringTable::GetLanguageString(const char *name, uint32_t langtable
 	{
 		return nullptr;
 	}
-	if (gender == -1 && callbacks && callbacks->GetPlayerGender) gender = callbacks->GetPlayerGender();
+	if (gender == -1 && sysCallbacks.GetGender) gender = sysCallbacks.GetGender();
 	if (gender < 0 || gender > 3) gender = 0;
 	FName nm(name, true);
 	if (nm != NAME_None)
diff --git a/source/common/engine/stringtable.h b/source/common/engine/stringtable.h
index 6562834b5..0467b27ed 100644
--- a/source/common/engine/stringtable.h
+++ b/source/common/engine/stringtable.h
@@ -50,13 +50,6 @@
 #include "name.h"
 
 
-struct StringtableCallbacks
-{
-	// These two functions would create a dependency on the game code so they are installed as callbacks.
-	bool (*ValidFilter)(const char* str);
-	int (*GetPlayerGender)();
-};
-
 struct TableElement
 {
 	int filenum;
@@ -108,7 +101,6 @@ public:
 		return GetString(name, nullptr);
 	}
 	bool exists(const char *name);
-	void SetCallbacks(StringtableCallbacks* cb) { callbacks = cb; }
 
 	void InsertString(int lumpnum, int langid, FName label, const FString& string);
 
@@ -118,8 +110,7 @@ private:
 	StringMacroMap allMacros;
 	LangMap allStrings;
 	TArray<std::pair<uint32_t, StringMap*>> currentLanguageSet;
-	StringtableCallbacks* callbacks = nullptr;
-
+	
 	void LoadLanguage (int lumpnum, const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer);
 	TArray<TArray<FString>> parseCSV(const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer);
 	bool ParseLanguageCSV(int lumpnum, const TArray<uint8_t> &buffer);
diff --git a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
index 2e24955ff..b54b71f0c 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
@@ -159,12 +159,6 @@ int StrTable_GetGender()
 
 bool validFilter(const char* str);
 
-static StringtableCallbacks stblcb =
-{
-	validFilter,
-	StrTable_GetGender
-};
-
 extern int chatmodeon;
 
 bool System_WantGuiCapture()
@@ -516,6 +510,8 @@ int GameMain()
 		nullptr,
 		nullptr,
 		System_DispatchEvent,
+		validFilter,
+		StrTable_GetGender,
 	};
 
 	try
diff --git a/source/core/menu/menudef.cpp b/source/core/menu/menudef.cpp
index b3d23397b..9a5375aab 100644
--- a/source/core/menu/menudef.cpp
+++ b/source/core/menu/menudef.cpp
@@ -175,13 +175,7 @@ FTextureID GetMenuTexture(const char* const name)
 static void SkipSubBlock(FScanner &sc)
 {
 	sc.MustGetStringName("{");
-	int depth = 1;
-	while (depth > 0)
-	{
-		sc.MustGetString();
-		if (sc.Compare("{")) depth++;
-		if (sc.Compare("}")) depth--;
-	}
+	sc.SkipToEndOfBlock();
 }
 
 //=============================================================================