diff --git a/src/gb/core.c b/src/gb/core.c
index 496bca866..7fb4cbe60 100644
--- a/src/gb/core.c
+++ b/src/gb/core.c
@@ -275,7 +275,9 @@ static void _GBCoreReset(struct mCore* core) {
 			default:
 				break;
 			};
-			bios = VFileOpen(configPath, O_RDONLY);
+			if (configPath) {
+				bios = VFileOpen(configPath, O_RDONLY);
+			}
 			if (bios && GBIsBIOS(bios)) {
 				found = true;
 			} else if (bios) {
diff --git a/src/gba/core.c b/src/gba/core.c
index 3a53641a7..2ed68e435 100644
--- a/src/gba/core.c
+++ b/src/gba/core.c
@@ -303,7 +303,9 @@ static void _GBACoreReset(struct mCore* core) {
 		}
 		if (!found) {
 			const char* configPath = mCoreConfigGetValue(&core->config, "gba.bios");
-			bios = VFileOpen(configPath, O_RDONLY);
+			if (configPath) {
+				bios = VFileOpen(configPath, O_RDONLY);
+			}
 			if (bios && GBAIsBIOS(bios)) {
 				found = true;
 			} else if (bios) {