diff --git a/source/funkin/ui/transition/LoadingState.hx b/source/funkin/ui/transition/LoadingState.hx
index 90d4936ae..ce9b6b9de 100644
--- a/source/funkin/ui/transition/LoadingState.hx
+++ b/source/funkin/ui/transition/LoadingState.hx
@@ -214,10 +214,10 @@ class LoadingState extends MusicBeatSubState
    */
   public static function loadPlayState(params:PlayStateParams, shouldStopMusic = false, asSubState = false, ?onConstruct:PlayState->Void):Void
   {
-    var daChart = params.targetSong.getDifficulty(params.targetDifficulty ?? Constants.DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY,
+    var daChart:Null<SongDifficulty> = params.targetSong.getDifficulty(params.targetDifficulty ?? Constants.DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY,
       params.targetVariation ?? Constants.DEFAULT_VARIATION);
 
-    var daStage = funkin.data.stage.StageRegistry.instance.fetchEntry(daChart.stage);
+    var daStage = funkin.data.stage.StageRegistry.instance.fetchEntry(daChart?.stage ?? Constants.DEFAULT_STAGE);
     stageDirectory = daStage?._data?.directory ?? "shared";
     Paths.setCurrentLevel(stageDirectory);