diff --git a/src/nostalgia/core/media.hpp b/src/nostalgia/core/media.hpp
index 5304e542..a95cbf5c 100644
--- a/src/nostalgia/core/media.hpp
+++ b/src/nostalgia/core/media.hpp
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ ox::Result<AssetRef<T>> readObj(Context *ctx, const ox::FileAddress &file,
 	}
 #else
 	if constexpr(ox::preloadable<T>::value) {
-		return AssetRef<T>{*reinterpret_cast<T*>(getPreloadAddr(ctx, file))};
+		oxRequire(addr, getPreloadAddr(ctx, file));
+		return AssetRef<T>(reinterpret_cast<const T*>(addr));
 	} else {
 		return OxError(1);
 	}