diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index a959e5156f..4f9662bc9b 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ bool wifi_driver_ctl(enum rarch_wifi_ctl_state state, void *data)
       case RARCH_WIFI_CTL_START:
         if (wifi_driver && wifi_data && wifi_driver->start)
         {
-           const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+           settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
            if (settings->bools.wifi_allow)
               return wifi_driver->start(wifi_data);
         }
@@ -1052,7 +1052,7 @@ void ui_companion_driver_deinit(void)
 
 void ui_companion_driver_init_first(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
 
    ui_companion               = (ui_companion_driver_t*)ui_companion_init_first();
 
@@ -1079,7 +1079,7 @@ void ui_companion_driver_init_first(void)
 void ui_companion_driver_toggle(bool force)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_QT
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 #endif
 
    if (ui_companion && ui_companion->toggle)
@@ -1104,7 +1104,7 @@ void ui_companion_driver_notify_refresh(void)
 {
    const ui_companion_driver_t *ui = ui_companion;
 #ifdef HAVE_QT
-   const settings_t      *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t      *settings       = configuration_settings;
 #endif
 
    if (!ui)
@@ -1216,7 +1216,7 @@ const char *ui_companion_driver_get_ident(void)
 void ui_companion_driver_log_msg(const char *msg)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_QT
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
    if (settings->bools.desktop_menu_enable)
       if (ui_companion_qt_data && qt_is_inited)
@@ -2802,7 +2802,7 @@ static INLINE bool input_keys_pressed_other_sources(unsigned i,
 static int16_t input_joypad_axis(const input_device_driver_t *drv,
       unsigned port, uint32_t joyaxis)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings     = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings           = configuration_settings;
    float input_analog_deadzone    = settings->floats.input_analog_deadzone;
    float input_analog_sensitivity = settings->floats.input_analog_sensitivity;
    int16_t val                    = drv->axis(port, joyaxis);
@@ -4128,7 +4128,7 @@ void input_driver_unset_nonblock_state(void)
 bool input_driver_init_command(void)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_COMMAND
-   const settings_t *settings    = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings          = configuration_settings;
    bool input_stdin_cmd_enable   = settings->bools.stdin_cmd_enable;
    bool input_network_cmd_enable = settings->bools.network_cmd_enable;
    bool grab_stdin               = current_input->grab_stdin && current_input->grab_stdin(current_input_data);
@@ -4185,7 +4185,7 @@ void input_driver_deinit_mapper(void)
 bool input_driver_init_remote(void)
 {
 #ifdef HAVE_NETWORKGAMEPAD
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
    if (!settings->bools.network_remote_enable)
       return false;
@@ -4204,7 +4204,7 @@ bool input_driver_init_remote(void)
 
 bool input_driver_init_mapper(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
    if (!settings->bools.input_remap_binds_enable)
       return false;
@@ -4377,7 +4377,7 @@ const input_device_driver_t *input_joypad_init_driver(
 bool input_joypad_set_rumble(const input_device_driver_t *drv,
       unsigned port, enum retro_rumble_effect effect, uint16_t strength)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
    unsigned joy_idx           = settings->uints.input_joypad_map[port];
 
    if (!drv || !drv->set_rumble || joy_idx >= MAX_USERS)
@@ -5245,7 +5245,7 @@ static void input_config_get_bind_string_joykey(
       char *buf, const char *prefix,
       const struct retro_keybind *bind, size_t size)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
    bool label_show            = settings->bools.input_descriptor_label_show;
 
    if (GET_HAT_DIR(bind->joykey))
@@ -5293,7 +5293,7 @@ static void input_config_get_bind_string_joykey(
 static void input_config_get_bind_string_joyaxis(char *buf, const char *prefix,
       const struct retro_keybind *bind, size_t size)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
    if (bind->joyaxis_label &&
          !string_is_empty(bind->joyaxis_label)
@@ -6561,7 +6561,7 @@ static void audio_mixer_menu_stop_cb(
 
 static enum resampler_quality audio_driver_get_resampler_quality(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings    = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings    = configuration_settings;
 
    if (!settings)
       return RESAMPLER_QUALITY_DONTCARE;
@@ -7374,7 +7374,7 @@ void audio_driver_set_buffer_size(size_t bufsize)
 static void audio_driver_monitor_adjust_system_rates(void)
 {
    float timing_skew;
-   const settings_t *settings             = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings                   = configuration_settings;
    float video_refresh_rate               = settings->floats.video_refresh_rate;
    float max_timing_skew                  = settings->floats.audio_max_timing_skew;
    struct retro_system_av_info *av_info   = &video_driver_av_info;
@@ -7993,7 +7993,7 @@ bool audio_driver_disable_callback(void)
 /* Sets audio monitor rate to new value. */
 static void audio_driver_monitor_set_rate(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
    double new_src_ratio       = (double)settings->uints.audio_out_rate /
       audio_driver_input;
 
@@ -9189,7 +9189,7 @@ bool video_driver_cached_frame(void)
 static void video_driver_monitor_adjust_system_rates(void)
 {
    float timing_skew                      = 0.0f;
-   const settings_t *settings             = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings                   = configuration_settings;
    float video_refresh_rate               = settings->floats.video_refresh_rate;
    float timing_skew_hz                   = video_refresh_rate;
    const struct retro_system_timing *info = (const struct retro_system_timing*)&video_driver_av_info.timing;
@@ -9287,7 +9287,7 @@ bool video_driver_supports_viewport_read(void)
 
 bool video_driver_prefer_viewport_read(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
    return settings->bools.video_gpu_screenshot ||
       (video_driver_is_hw_context() && !current_video->read_frame_raw);
 }
@@ -9437,7 +9437,7 @@ void video_driver_monitor_reset(void)
 
 void video_driver_set_aspect_ratio(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
    unsigned aspect_ratio_idx  = settings->uints.video_aspect_ratio_idx;
 
    switch (aspect_ratio_idx)
@@ -10736,7 +10736,7 @@ bool video_context_driver_get_video_output_size(gfx_ctx_size_t *size_data)
 bool video_context_driver_swap_interval(int *interval)
 {
    int current_interval                   = *interval;
-   const settings_t *settings             = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings                   = configuration_settings;
    bool adaptive_vsync_enabled            = video_driver_test_all_flags(GFX_CTX_FLAGS_ADAPTIVE_VSYNC) && settings->bools.video_adaptive_vsync;
 
    if (!current_video_context.swap_interval)
@@ -10795,7 +10795,7 @@ bool video_context_driver_get_refresh_rate(float *refresh_rate)
 
 bool video_context_driver_input_driver(gfx_ctx_input_t *inp)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings    = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings          = configuration_settings;
    const char *joypad_name       = settings->arrays.input_joypad_driver;
 
    if (!current_video_context.input_driver)
@@ -11648,7 +11648,7 @@ bool driver_location_start(void)
 {
    if (location_driver && location_data && location_driver->start)
    {
-      const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+      settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
       if (settings->bools.location_allow)
          return location_driver->start(location_data);
 
@@ -11823,7 +11823,7 @@ bool driver_camera_start(void)
 {
    if (camera_driver && camera_data && camera_driver->start)
    {
-      const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+      settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
       if (settings->bools.camera_allow)
          return camera_driver->start(camera_data);
 
@@ -12105,7 +12105,7 @@ void driver_set_nonblock_state(void)
    /* Only apply non-block-state for video if we're using vsync. */
    if (video_driver_is_active() && video_driver_get_ptr_internal(false))
    {
-      const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+      settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
       bool video_nonblock        = enable;
 
       if (!settings->bools.video_vsync || runloop_force_nonblock)
@@ -13009,7 +13009,7 @@ static void run_ahead(int runahead_count, bool useSecondary)
    {
       if (!runahead_create())
       {
-         const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+         settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
          if (!settings->bools.run_ahead_hide_warnings)
             runloop_msg_queue_push(msg_hash_to_str(MSG_RUNAHEAD_CORE_DOES_NOT_SUPPORT_SAVESTATES), 0, 2 * 60, true, NULL, MESSAGE_QUEUE_ICON_DEFAULT, MESSAGE_QUEUE_CATEGORY_INFO);
          core_run();
@@ -13146,7 +13146,7 @@ void rarch_core_runtime_tick(void)
       /* Account for slow motion */
       if (runloop_slowmotion)
       {
-         const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+         settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
          frame_time                 = (retro_time_t)((double)
                frame_time * settings->floats.slowmotion_ratio);
       }
@@ -14270,10 +14270,10 @@ bool retroarch_main_init(int argc, char *argv[])
 
       if (!string_is_empty(fullpath))
       {
-         const settings_t *settings        = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+         settings_t *settings              = configuration_settings;
          enum rarch_content_type cont_type = path_is_media_type(fullpath);
-         bool builtin_imageviewer          = settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_imageviewer_enable;
-         bool builtin_mediaplayer          = settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_mediaplayer_enable;
+         bool builtin_imageviewer          = settings ? settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_imageviewer_enable : false;
+         bool builtin_mediaplayer          = settings ? settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_mediaplayer_enable : false;
 
          retroarch_main_init_media(cont_type, builtin_mediaplayer,
                builtin_imageviewer);
@@ -14358,7 +14358,7 @@ bool retroarch_main_init(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 #ifdef HAVE_MENU
    {
-      const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+      settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
       if (settings->bools.audio_enable_menu)
          audio_driver_load_menu_sounds();
@@ -14386,7 +14386,7 @@ bool retroarch_is_on_main_thread(void)
 void rarch_menu_running(void)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_MENU) || defined(HAVE_OVERLAY)
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_MENU
    menu_driver_ctl(RARCH_MENU_CTL_SET_TOGGLE, NULL);
@@ -14407,7 +14407,7 @@ void rarch_menu_running(void)
 void rarch_menu_running_finished(bool quit)
 {
 #if defined(HAVE_MENU) || defined(HAVE_OVERLAY)
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_MENU
    menu_driver_ctl(RARCH_MENU_CTL_UNSET_TOGGLE, NULL);
@@ -14417,14 +14417,14 @@ void rarch_menu_running_finished(bool quit)
 
    if (!quit)
       /* Stop menu background music before we exit the menu */
-      if (settings->bools.audio_enable_menu && settings->bools.audio_enable_menu_bgm)
+      if (settings && settings->bools.audio_enable_menu && settings->bools.audio_enable_menu_bgm)
          audio_driver_mixer_stop_stream(AUDIO_MIXER_SYSTEM_SLOT_BGM);
 
 #endif
    video_driver_set_texture_enable(false, false);
 #ifdef HAVE_OVERLAY
    if (!quit)
-      if (settings->bools.input_overlay_hide_in_menu)
+      if (settings && settings->bools.input_overlay_hide_in_menu)
          command_event(CMD_EVENT_OVERLAY_INIT, NULL);
 #endif
 }
@@ -14747,7 +14747,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
          return runloop_game_options_active;
       case RARCH_CTL_SET_FRAME_LIMIT:
          {
-            const settings_t           *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+            settings_t                 *settings = configuration_settings;
             struct retro_system_av_info *av_info = &video_driver_av_info;
             float fastforward_ratio_orig         = settings->floats.fastforward_ratio;
             float fastforward_ratio              = (fastforward_ratio_orig == 0.0f) ? 1.0f : fastforward_ratio_orig;
@@ -14808,7 +14808,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
          /* Only write to file if content has run for a non-zero length of time */
          if (libretro_core_runtime_usec > 0)
          {
-            const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+            settings_t *settings = configuration_settings;
 
             /* Per core logging */
             if (settings->bools.content_runtime_log)
@@ -14918,7 +14918,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
       case RARCH_CTL_TASK_INIT:
          {
 #ifdef HAVE_THREADS
-            const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+            settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
             bool threaded_enable       = settings->bools.threaded_data_runloop_enable;
 #else
             bool threaded_enable = false;
@@ -14963,7 +14963,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
          break;
       case RARCH_CTL_CORE_OPTIONS_GET:
          {
-            const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+            settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
             unsigned log_level         = settings->uints.libretro_log_level;
 
             struct retro_variable *var = (struct retro_variable*)data;
@@ -14983,7 +14983,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
          break;
       case RARCH_CTL_CORE_OPTIONS_INIT:
          {
-            const settings_t *settings        = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+            settings_t *settings              = configuration_settings;
             char *game_options_path           = NULL;
             const struct retro_variable *vars =
                (const struct retro_variable*)data;
@@ -14999,7 +14999,7 @@ bool rarch_ctl(enum rarch_ctl_state state, void *data)
             else
             {
                char buf[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
-               const char *options_path       = settings->paths.path_core_options;
+               const char *options_path       = settings ? settings->paths.path_core_options : NULL;
 
                buf[0] = '\0';
 
@@ -15191,7 +15191,7 @@ static bool retroarch_load_shader_preset_internal(
  */
 static bool retroarch_load_shader_preset(void)
 {
-   const settings_t *settings         = configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings               = configuration_settings;
    const rarch_system_info_t *system  = &runloop_system;
    const char *video_shader_directory = settings->paths.directory_video_shader;
    const char *core_name              = system->info.library_name;
@@ -17582,7 +17582,7 @@ void rarch_log_file_init(void)
    char log_directory[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
    char log_file_path[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
    FILE             *fp       = NULL;
-   const settings_t *settings = (const settings_t*)configuration_settings;
+   settings_t *settings       = configuration_settings;
    bool log_to_file           = settings->bools.log_to_file;
    bool log_to_file_timestamp = settings->bools.log_to_file_timestamp;
    bool logging_to_file       = is_logging_to_file();