diff --git a/src/guest/dreamcast.c b/src/guest/dreamcast.c
index 97deb76d..02745f32 100644
--- a/src/guest/dreamcast.c
+++ b/src/guest/dreamcast.c
@@ -70,6 +70,32 @@ void dc_suspend(struct dreamcast *dc) {
   dc->running = 0;
 }
 
+static int dc_load_bin(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path) {
+  FILE *fp = fopen(path, "rb");
+  if (!fp) {
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_END);
+  int size = ftell(fp);
+  fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_SET);
+
+  /* load to 0x0c010000 (area 3) which is where 1ST_READ.BIN is loaded to */
+  uint8_t *data = memory_translate(dc->memory, "system ram", 0x00010000);
+  int n = (int)fread(data, sizeof(uint8_t), size, fp);
+  fclose(fp);
+
+  if (n != size) {
+    LOG_WARNING("failed to read %s", path);
+    return 0;
+  }
+
+  sh4_reset(dc->sh4, 0x0c010000);
+  dc_resume(dc);
+
+  return 1;
+}
+
 static int dc_load_disc(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path) {
   struct disc *disc = disc_create(path);
 
@@ -94,7 +120,7 @@ int dc_load(struct dreamcast *dc, const char *path) {
 
   LOG_INFO("loading %s", path);
 
-  if (dc_load_disc(dc, path)) {
+  if (dc_load_disc(dc, path) || dc_load_bin(dc, path)) {
     return 1;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
index 6fe98433..71ca5912 100644
--- a/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
+++ b/src/guest/gdrom/gdrom.c
@@ -681,7 +681,9 @@ void gdrom_dma_begin(struct gdrom *gd) {
 }
 
 int gdrom_widescreen_enabled(struct gdrom *gd) {
-  CHECK_NOTNULL(gd->disc);
+  if (!gd->disc) {
+    return 0;
+  }
 
   return patch_widescreen_enabled(gd->disc->id);
 }