diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp b/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
index 8cfe2b5332..c3d2765396 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GS.cpp
@@ -232,6 +232,10 @@ static INT32 _GSopen(void* dsp, char* title, int renderer)
 
 	if( !s_gs->CreateDevice(dev) )
 	{
+		// This probably means the user has DX11 configured with a video card that is only DX9
+		// compliant.  Cound mean drivr issues of some sort also, but to be sure, that's the most
+		// common cause of device creation errors. :)  --air
+
 		GSclose();
 		return -1;
 	}
diff --git a/plugins/GSdx/GSRenderer.h b/plugins/GSdx/GSRenderer.h
index bd2239651d..4b362e96e0 100644
--- a/plugins/GSdx/GSRenderer.h
+++ b/plugins/GSdx/GSRenderer.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ public:
 	{
 		InvalidateTextureCache();
 		ResetPrim();
-		m_dev->Reset(1, 1);
+		if( m_dev ) m_dev->Reset(1, 1);
 	}
 	virtual void VSync(int field);
 	virtual bool MakeSnapshot(const string& path);