diff --git a/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteField.cpp b/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteField.cpp
index e23e005b9d..7903d796fc 100644
--- a/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteField.cpp
+++ b/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteField.cpp
@@ -256,6 +256,10 @@ NoteField::ensure_note_displays_have_skin()
 		if (sNoteSkinLower.empty()) {
 			sNoteSkinLower = make_lower(CommonMetrics::DEFAULT_NOTESKIN_NAME);
 		}
+
+		// force this to work whether you like it or not
+		if (!NOTESKIN->DoesNoteSkinExist(sNoteSkinLower))
+			sNoteSkinLower = make_lower(NOTESKIN->GetFirstWorkingNoteSkin());
 		
 		CacheNoteSkin(sNoteSkinLower);
 	}
diff --git a/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteFieldPreview.cpp b/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteFieldPreview.cpp
index ff0603617c..c736009e65 100644
--- a/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteFieldPreview.cpp
+++ b/src/Etterna/Actor/Gameplay/NoteFieldPreview.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <limits>
 
 #include "Etterna/Models/Misc/CommonMetrics.h"
+#include "Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.h"
 
 REGISTER_ACTOR_CLASS(NoteFieldPreview);
 
@@ -214,6 +215,10 @@ NoteFieldPreview::ensure_note_displays_have_skin()
 			sNoteSkinLower = make_lower(CommonMetrics::DEFAULT_NOTESKIN_NAME);
 		}
 
+		// force this to work whether you like it or not
+		if (!NOTESKIN->DoesNoteSkinExist(sNoteSkinLower))
+			sNoteSkinLower = make_lower(NOTESKIN->GetFirstWorkingNoteSkin());
+
 		CacheNoteSkin(sNoteSkinLower);
 		
 		// if we already have a display loaded with the "correct" number of
diff --git a/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.cpp b/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.cpp
index 786d9f71be..09f88b93cb 100644
--- a/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.cpp
+++ b/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.cpp
@@ -290,6 +290,16 @@ NoteSkinManager::ValidateNoteSkinName(std::string& name)
 	}
 }
 
+std::string
+NoteSkinManager::GetFirstWorkingNoteSkin()
+{
+	vector<std::string> all_names;
+	GetAllNoteSkinNamesForGame(GAMESTATE->m_pCurGame, all_names);
+	if (all_names.size() > 0)
+		return all_names[0];
+	return "";
+}
+
 void
 NoteSkinManager::GetAllNoteSkinNamesForGame(const Game* pGame,
 											vector<std::string>& AddTo)
diff --git a/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.h b/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.h
index ba8cf370f2..0847289ff7 100644
--- a/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.h
+++ b/src/Etterna/Singletons/NoteSkinManager.h
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class NoteSkinManager
 
 	void ValidateNoteSkinName(std::string& name);
 
+	auto GetFirstWorkingNoteSkin() -> std::string;
+
 	void SetCurrentNoteSkin(const std::string& sNoteSkin)
 	{
 		m_sCurrentNoteSkin = sNoteSkin;