diff --git a/Common/Serialize/SerializeFuncs.h b/Common/Serialize/SerializeFuncs.h
index c8c8eb4b33..49fcded674 100644
--- a/Common/Serialize/SerializeFuncs.h
+++ b/Common/Serialize/SerializeFuncs.h
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ void DoClass(PointerWrap &p, T *&x) {
 	if (p.mode == PointerWrap::MODE_READ) {
 		delete x;
 		x = new T();
+	} else if (p.mode == PointerWrap::MODE_NOOP && !x) {
+		// A load that failed partway leaves the rest of a container unfilled.
+		return;
 	}
 	x->DoState(p);
 }
@@ -76,6 +79,8 @@ void DoSubClass(PointerWrap &p, T *&x, Args... args) {
 		if (x != nullptr)
 			delete x;
 		x = new S(args...);
+	} else if (p.mode == PointerWrap::MODE_NOOP && !x) {
+		return;
 	}
 	x->DoState(p);
 }