diff --git a/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigService.cs b/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigService.cs
index b58d155ffa..49cda3e79a 100644
--- a/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigService.cs
+++ b/BizHawk.Client.Common/config/ConfigService.cs
@@ -86,7 +86,12 @@ namespace BizHawk.Client.Common
 			using (JsonTextReader jr = new JsonTextReader(tr))
 			{
 				TypeNameEncapsulator tne = (TypeNameEncapsulator)Serializer.Deserialize(jr, typeof(TypeNameEncapsulator));
-				return tne.o;
+				// in the case of trying to deserialize nothing, tne will be nothing
+				// we want to return nothing
+				if (tne != null)
+					return tne.o;
+				else
+					return null;
 			}
 		}