diff --git a/tier2/fileformats/ini.cpp b/tier2/fileformats/ini.cpp
index e686dee..f66a111 100644
--- a/tier2/fileformats/ini.cpp
+++ b/tier2/fileformats/ini.cpp
@@ -95,11 +95,13 @@ IINIFile *CINIManager::ReadFile( const char *psz )
 	CUtlBuffer<char> data;
 	
 	pFile = filesystem->Open(psz, FILEMODE_READ);
+	if (!pFile)
+		return NULL;
 	data = CUtlBuffer<char>(pFile->Size()+1);
 	pFile->Read(data.GetMemory(), pFile->Size());
 	pFile->Close();
 
-	ReadString(data.GetMemory());
+	return ReadString(data.GetMemory());
 }
 
 IINIFile *CINIManager::ReadString( const char *psz )