diff --git a/Source/loadsave.cpp b/Source/loadsave.cpp
index 0c161e3ad..92ab7cf64 100644
--- a/Source/loadsave.cpp
+++ b/Source/loadsave.cpp
@@ -2331,13 +2331,20 @@ size_t HotkeysSize(size_t nHotkeys = NumHotkeys)
 
 void LoadHotkeys()
 {
-	LoadHelper file(OpenSaveArchive(gSaveNumber), "hotkeys");
+	if (MyPlayer == nullptr)
+		return;
+
+	LoadHotkeys(gSaveNumber, *MyPlayer);
+}
+
+void LoadHotkeys(uint32_t saveNum, Player &myPlayer)
+{
+	LoadHelper file(OpenSaveArchive(saveNum), "hotkeys");
 	if (!file.IsValid()) {
-		SanitizePlayerSpellSelections(*MyPlayer);
+		SanitizePlayerSpellSelections(myPlayer);
 		return;
 	}
 
-	Player &myPlayer = *MyPlayer;
 	size_t nHotkeys = 4; // Defaults to old save format number
 
 	// Refill the spell arrays with no selection
@@ -2524,7 +2531,7 @@ tl::expected<void, std::string> LoadGame(bool firstflag)
 	LoadPlayer(file, myPlayer);
 	ValidatePlayer();
 	CalcPlrInv(myPlayer, false);
-	LoadHotkeys();
+	LoadHotkeys(gSaveNumber, myPlayer);
 	myPlayer.queuedSpell.spellId = myPlayer._pRSpell;
 	myPlayer.queuedSpell.spellType = myPlayer._pRSplType;
 
diff --git a/Source/loadsave.h b/Source/loadsave.h
index 0d139e143..309f6887b 100644
--- a/Source/loadsave.h
+++ b/Source/loadsave.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ _item_indexes RemapItemIdxFromSpawn(_item_indexes i);
 _item_indexes RemapItemIdxToSpawn(_item_indexes i);
 bool IsHeaderValid(uint32_t magicNumber);
 void LoadHotkeys();
+void LoadHotkeys(uint32_t saveNum, Player &myPlayer);
 void LoadHeroItems(Player &player);
 /**
  * @brief Remove invalid inventory items from the inventory grid
diff --git a/Source/pfile.cpp b/Source/pfile.cpp
index 7913f3493..4e08bd4c8 100644
--- a/Source/pfile.cpp
+++ b/Source/pfile.cpp
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ void pfile_read_player_from_save(uint32_t saveNum, Player &player)
 	RemoveAllInvalidItems(player);
 	CalcPlrInv(player, false);
 	if (&player == MyPlayer) {
-		LoadHotkeys();
+		LoadHotkeys(saveNum, player);
 		player.queuedSpell.spellId = player._pRSpell;
 		player.queuedSpell.spellType = player._pRSplType;
 	} else {