diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/main.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/main.cpp
index 92a8f03da..66bf4bf51 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/main.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/main.cpp
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
     window->startupUpdateCheck();
   }
 
-  window->reportSettingsVersionMismatchString();
-
   int result = app.exec();
 
   window.reset();
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
index 64b5194c0..eb1a97b0f 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -1121,13 +1121,6 @@ void MainWindow::startupUpdateCheck()
   checkForUpdates(false);
 }
 
-void MainWindow::reportSettingsVersionMismatchString()
-{
-  const QString mismatch_str = QString::fromStdString(m_host_interface->GetSettingsVersionMismatchString());
-  if (!mismatch_str.isEmpty())
-    reportError(mismatch_str);
-}
-
 void MainWindow::updateDebugMenuVisibility()
 {
   const bool visible = m_host_interface->GetBoolSettingValue("Main", "ShowDebugMenu", false);
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
index a384f4cbe..10f187296 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.h
@@ -30,10 +30,6 @@ public:
   /// Performs update check if enabled in settings.
   void startupUpdateCheck();
 
-  /// Reports m_host_interface's settings version mismatch string. Does nothing if string is empty (no settings version
-  /// mismatch detected).
-  void reportSettingsVersionMismatchString();
-
 public Q_SLOTS:
   /// Updates debug menu visibility (hides if disabled).
   void updateDebugMenuVisibility();
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
index a028337a4..fe6909b5b 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
@@ -680,8 +680,14 @@ void QtHostInterface::OnSystemStateSaved(bool global, s32 slot)
 void QtHostInterface::LoadSettings()
 {
   m_settings_interface = std::make_unique<INISettingsInterface>(CommonHostInterface::GetSettingsFileName());
+  Log::SetConsoleOutputParams(true);
+
+  if (!CommonHostInterface::CheckSettings(*m_settings_interface.get()))
+  {
+    QTimer::singleShot(1000,
+                       [this]() { ReportError("Settings version mismatch, settings have been reset to defaults."); });
+  }
 
-  CommonHostInterface::CheckSettings(*m_settings_interface.get());
   CommonHostInterface::LoadSettings(*m_settings_interface.get());
   CommonHostInterface::FixIncompatibleSettings(false);
 }
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
index e8d444229..6916c99e6 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ public:
   bool Initialize() override;
   void Shutdown() override;
 
+public Q_SLOTS:
   void ReportError(const char* message) override;
   void ReportMessage(const char* message) override;
   bool ConfirmMessage(const char* message) override;
 
+public:
   /// Thread-safe settings access.
   std::string GetStringSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, const char* default_value = "") override;
   bool GetBoolSettingValue(const char* section, const char* key, bool default_value = false) override;
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
index 499525347..8013cae1e 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
@@ -1989,19 +1989,19 @@ std::string CommonHostInterface::GetMostRecentResumeSaveStatePath() const
   return std::move(most_recent->FileName);
 }
 
-void CommonHostInterface::CheckSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
+bool CommonHostInterface::CheckSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
 {
   const int settings_version = si.GetIntValue("Main", "SettingsVersion", -1);
   if (settings_version == SETTINGS_VERSION)
-    return;
+    return true;
 
-  m_settings_version_mismatch_str = StringUtil::StdStringFromFormat(
-    "Settings version %d does not match expected version %d, resetting", settings_version, SETTINGS_VERSION);
-  ReportError(m_settings_version_mismatch_str.c_str());
+  Log_ErrorPrintf("Settings version %d does not match expected version %d, resetting", settings_version,
+                  SETTINGS_VERSION);
 
   si.Clear();
   si.SetIntValue("Main", "SettingsVersion", SETTINGS_VERSION);
   SetDefaultSettings(si);
+  return false;
 }
 
 void CommonHostInterface::SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
@@ -2103,11 +2103,6 @@ void CommonHostInterface::CheckForSettingsChanges(const Settings& old_settings)
   UpdateInputMap();
 }
 
-const std::string& CommonHostInterface::GetSettingsVersionMismatchString() const
-{
-  return m_settings_version_mismatch_str;
-}
-
 void CommonHostInterface::SetTimerResolutionIncreased(bool enabled)
 {
   if (m_timer_resolution_increased == enabled)
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
index 07ad70d97..5fb7c61f7 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
@@ -174,10 +174,6 @@ public:
   /// Reloads post processing shaders with the current configuration.
   void ReloadPostProcessingShaders();
 
-  /// Returns an empty string if no settings version mismatch was detected, non-empty otherwise. Should not be called
-  /// before CheckSettings(SettingsInterface& si).
-  const std::string& GetSettingsVersionMismatchString() const;
-
 protected:
   enum : u32
   {
@@ -282,7 +278,7 @@ protected:
   std::string GetCheatFileName() const;
 
   /// Ensures the settings is valid and the correct version. If not, resets to defaults.
-  void CheckSettings(SettingsInterface& si);
+  bool CheckSettings(SettingsInterface& si);
 
   /// Restores all settings to defaults.
   virtual void SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si) override;
@@ -375,8 +371,6 @@ private:
   // running in batch mode? i.e. exit after stopping emulation
   bool m_batch_mode = false;
 
-  std::string m_settings_version_mismatch_str;
-
 #ifdef WITH_DISCORD_PRESENCE
   // discord rich presence
   bool m_discord_presence_enabled = false;