diff --git a/include/project.h b/include/project.h
index 20458dbe..9873c60f 100644
--- a/include/project.h
+++ b/include/project.h
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ public:
     QStringList getVisibilities();
     QMap<QString, QStringList> getTilesetLabels();
     void readTilesetProperties();
-    void readRegionMapSections();
+    bool readRegionMapSections();
     void readItemNames();
     void readFlagNames();
     void readVarNames();
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.cpp b/src/mainwindow.cpp
index 468ef0de..20cd5b90 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -597,11 +597,11 @@ void MainWindow::on_checkBox_AllowEscapeRope_clicked(bool checked)
 
 bool MainWindow::loadDataStructures() {
     Project *project = editor->project;
-    bool success = project->readMapLayouts();
+    bool success = project->readMapLayouts()
+                && project->readRegionMapSections();
     if (!success) {
         return false;
     }
-    project->readRegionMapSections();
     project->readItemNames();
     project->readFlagNames();
     project->readVarNames();
diff --git a/src/project.cpp b/src/project.cpp
index c3bded77..c5bee579 100644
--- a/src/project.cpp
+++ b/src/project.cpp
@@ -1728,15 +1728,22 @@ void Project::readTilesetProperties() {
     }
 }
 
-void Project::readRegionMapSections() {
+bool Project::readRegionMapSections() {
     this->mapSectionNameToValue.clear();
     this->mapSectionValueToName.clear();
 
     QStringList prefixes = (QStringList() << "MAPSEC_");
-    this->mapSectionNameToValue = parser.readCDefines("include/constants/region_map_sections.h", prefixes);
+    QString filename = "include/constants/region_map_sections.h";
+    this->mapSectionNameToValue = parser.readCDefines(filename, prefixes);
+    if (this->mapSectionNameToValue.isEmpty()) {
+        logError(QString("Failed to read region map sections from %1.").arg(filename));
+        return false;
+    }
+
     for (QString defineName : this->mapSectionNameToValue.keys()) {
         this->mapSectionValueToName.insert(this->mapSectionNameToValue[defineName], defineName);
     }
+    return true;
 }
 
 void Project::readHealLocations() {