diff --git a/src/base_media_func.h b/src/base_media_func.h
--- a/src/base_media_func.h
+++ b/src/base_media_func.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ template <class T, size_t Tnum_files, bo
 bool BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_tars>::FillSetDetails(IniFile &ini, const std::string &path, const std::string &full_filename, bool allow_empty_filename)
 {
 	IniGroup *metadata = ini.GetGroup("metadata");
+	if (metadata == nullptr) {
+		Debug(grf, 0, "Base " SET_TYPE "set detail loading: metadata missing.");
+		Debug(grf, 0, "  Is {} readable for the user running OpenTTD?", full_filename);
+		return false;
+	}
 	IniItem *item;
 
 	fetch_metadata("name");
@@ -75,7 +80,7 @@ bool BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_t
 	for (uint i = 0; i < Tnum_files; i++) {
 		MD5File *file = &this->files[i];
 		/* Find the filename first. */
-		item = files->GetItem(BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_tars>::file_names[i]);
+		item = files != nullptr ? files->GetItem(BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_tars>::file_names[i]) : nullptr;
 		if (item == nullptr || (!item->value.has_value() && !allow_empty_filename)) {
 			Debug(grf, 0, "No " SET_TYPE " file for: {} (in {})", BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_tars>::file_names[i], full_filename);
 			return false;
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ bool BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_t
 		file->filename = path + filename;
 
 		/* Then find the MD5 checksum */
-		item = md5s->GetItem(filename);
+		item = md5s != nullptr ? md5s->GetItem(filename) : nullptr;
 		if (item == nullptr || !item->value.has_value()) {
 			Debug(grf, 0, "No MD5 checksum specified for: {} (in {})", filename, full_filename);
 			return false;
@@ -119,8 +124,8 @@ bool BaseSet<T, Tnum_files, Tsearch_in_t
 		}
 
 		/* Then find the warning message when the file's missing */
-		item = origin->GetItem(filename);
-		if (item == nullptr) item = origin->GetItem("default");
+		item = origin != nullptr ? origin->GetItem(filename) : nullptr;
+		if (item == nullptr) item = origin != nullptr ? origin->GetItem("default") : nullptr;
 		if (item == nullptr || !item->value.has_value()) {
 			Debug(grf, 1, "No origin warning message specified for: {}", filename);
 			file->missing_warning.clear();
diff --git a/src/gfxinit.cpp b/src/gfxinit.cpp
--- a/src/gfxinit.cpp
+++ b/src/gfxinit.cpp
@@ -352,6 +352,7 @@ bool GraphicsSet::FillSetDetails(IniFile
 	bool ret = this->BaseSet<GraphicsSet, MAX_GFT, true>::FillSetDetails(ini, path, full_filename, false);
 	if (ret) {
 		IniGroup *metadata = ini.GetGroup("metadata");
+		assert(metadata != nullptr); /* ret can't be true if metadata isn't present. */
 		IniItem *item;
 
 		fetch_metadata("palette");
diff --git a/src/hotkeys.cpp b/src/hotkeys.cpp
--- a/src/hotkeys.cpp
+++ b/src/hotkeys.cpp
@@ -277,6 +277,7 @@ HotkeyList::~HotkeyList()
 void HotkeyList::Load(IniFile &ini)
 {
 	IniGroup *group = ini.GetGroup(this->ini_group);
+	if (group == nullptr) return;
 	for (Hotkey &hotkey : this->items) {
 		IniItem *item = group->GetItem(hotkey.name);
 		if (item != nullptr) {
diff --git a/src/ini_load.cpp b/src/ini_load.cpp
--- a/src/ini_load.cpp
+++ b/src/ini_load.cpp
@@ -174,23 +174,17 @@ IniLoadFile::~IniLoadFile()
 }
 
 /**
- * Get the group with the given name. If it doesn't exist
- * and \a create_new is \c true create a new group.
+ * Get the group with the given name.
  * @param name name of the group to find.
- * @param create_new Allow creation of group if it does not exist.
- * @return The requested group if it exists or was created, else \c nullptr.
+ * @return The requested group or \c nullptr if not found.
  */
-IniGroup *IniLoadFile::GetGroup(const std::string &name, bool create_new)
+IniGroup *IniLoadFile::GetGroup(const std::string &name) const
 {
-	/* does it exist already? */
 	for (IniGroup *group = this->group; group != nullptr; group = group->next) {
 		if (group->name == name) return group;
 	}
 
-	if (!create_new) return nullptr;
-
-	/* otherwise make a new one */
-	return &this->CreateGroup(name);
+	return nullptr;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/ini_type.h b/src/ini_type.h
--- a/src/ini_type.h
+++ b/src/ini_type.h
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ struct IniLoadFile {
 	IniLoadFile(const char * const *list_group_names = nullptr, const char * const *seq_group_names = nullptr);
 	virtual ~IniLoadFile();
 
-	IniGroup *GetGroup(const std::string &name, bool create_new = true);
+	IniGroup *GetGroup(const std::string &name) const;
 	IniGroup &GetOrCreateGroup(const std::string &name);
 	IniGroup &CreateGroup(const std::string &name);
 	void RemoveGroup(const std::string &name);
diff --git a/src/music.cpp b/src/music.cpp
--- a/src/music.cpp
+++ b/src/music.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ bool MusicSet::FillSetDetails(IniFile &i
 
 			this->songinfo[i].filename = filename; // non-owned pointer
 
-			IniItem *item = catindex->GetItem(_music_file_names[i]);
+			IniItem *item = catindex != nullptr ? catindex->GetItem(_music_file_names[i]) : nullptr;
 			if (item != nullptr && item->value.has_value() && !item->value->empty()) {
 				/* Song has a CAT file index, assume it's MPS MIDI format */
 				this->songinfo[i].filetype = MTT_MPSMIDI;
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ bool MusicSet::FillSetDetails(IniFile &i
 				 * the beginning, so we don't start reading e.g. root. */
 				while (*trimmed_filename == PATHSEPCHAR) trimmed_filename++;
 
-				item = names->GetItem(trimmed_filename);
+				item = names != nullptr ? names->GetItem(trimmed_filename) : nullptr;
 				if (item != nullptr && item->value.has_value() && !item->value->empty()) break;
 			}
 
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ bool MusicSet::FillSetDetails(IniFile &i
 				this->songinfo[i].tracknr = tracknr++;
 			}
 
-			item = trimmed_filename != nullptr ? timingtrim->GetItem(trimmed_filename) : nullptr;
+			item = trimmed_filename != nullptr && timingtrim != nullptr ? timingtrim->GetItem(trimmed_filename) : nullptr;
 			if (item != nullptr && item->value.has_value() && !item->value->empty()) {
 				auto endpos = item->value->find(':');
 				if (endpos != std::string::npos) {
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -600,13 +600,15 @@ static void IniLoadSettings(IniFile &ini
 		auto sc = s.find('.');
 		if (sc != std::string::npos) {
 			group = ini.GetGroup(s.substr(0, sc));
+			if (group == nullptr) group = group_def;
 			s = s.substr(sc + 1);
 		} else {
 			group = group_def;
 		}
 
-		IniItem *item = group->GetItem(s);
-		if (item == nullptr && group != group_def) {
+		IniItem *item = nullptr;
+		if (group != nullptr) item = group->GetItem(s);
+		if (item == nullptr && group != group_def && group_def != nullptr) {
 			/* For settings.xx.yy load the settings from [settings] yy = ? in case the previous
 			 * did not exist (e.g. loading old config files with a [settings] section */
 			item = group_def->GetItem(s);
@@ -615,7 +617,9 @@ static void IniLoadSettings(IniFile &ini
 			/* For settings.xx.zz.yy load the settings from [zz] yy = ? in case the previous
 			 * did not exist (e.g. loading old config files with a [yapf] section */
 			sc = s.find('.');
-			if (sc != std::string::npos) item = ini.GetGroup(s.substr(0, sc))->GetItem(s.substr(sc + 1));
+			if (sc != std::string::npos) {
+				if (group = ini.GetGroup(s.substr(0, sc)); group != nullptr) item = group->GetItem(s.substr(sc + 1));
+			}
 		}
 
 		sd->ParseValue(item, object);
@@ -1087,6 +1091,7 @@ static GRFConfig *GRFLoadConfig(IniFile 
 static IniFileVersion LoadVersionFromConfig(IniFile &ini)
 {
 	IniGroup *group = ini.GetGroup("version");
+	if (group == nullptr) return IFV_0;
 
 	auto version_number = group->GetItem("ini_version");
 	/* Older ini-file versions don't have this key yet. */
@@ -1212,6 +1217,7 @@ static void RemoveEntriesFromIni(IniFile
 		if (sc == std::string::npos) continue;
 
 		IniGroup *group = ini.GetGroup(s.substr(0, sc));
+		if (group == nullptr) continue;
 		s = s.substr(sc + 1);
 
 		group->RemoveItem(s);
@@ -1245,7 +1251,7 @@ bool IsConversionNeeded(ConfigIniFile &i
 {
 	*old_item = nullptr;
 
-	IniGroup *igroup = ini.GetGroup(group, false);
+	IniGroup *igroup = ini.GetGroup(group);
 	/* If the group doesn't exist, there is nothing to convert. */
 	if (igroup == nullptr) return false;
 
@@ -1295,7 +1301,7 @@ void LoadFromConfig(bool startup)
 
 		/* Move no_http_content_downloads and use_relay_service from generic_ini to private_ini. */
 		if (generic_version < IFV_NETWORK_PRIVATE_SETTINGS) {
-			IniGroup *network = generic_ini.GetGroup("network", false);
+			IniGroup *network = generic_ini.GetGroup("network");
 			if (network != nullptr) {
 				IniItem *no_http_content_downloads = network->GetItem("no_http_content_downloads");
 				if (no_http_content_downloads != nullptr) {
@@ -1377,8 +1383,8 @@ void SaveToConfig()
 	 * just so we can add a comment before it (that is how IniFile works).
 	 * This to explain what the file is about. After doing it once, never touch
 	 * it again, as otherwise we might be reverting user changes. */
-	if (IniGroup *group = private_ini.GetGroup("private", false); group != nullptr) group->comment = "; This file possibly contains private information which can identify you as person.\n";
-	if (IniGroup *group = secrets_ini.GetGroup("secrets", false); group != nullptr) group->comment = "; Do not share this file with others, not even if they claim to be technical support.\n; This file contains saved passwords and other secrets that should remain private to you!\n";
+	if (IniGroup *group = private_ini.GetGroup("private"); group != nullptr) group->comment = "; This file possibly contains private information which can identify you as person.\n";
+	if (IniGroup *group = secrets_ini.GetGroup("secrets"); group != nullptr) group->comment = "; Do not share this file with others, not even if they claim to be technical support.\n; This file contains saved passwords and other secrets that should remain private to you!\n";
 
 	if (generic_version == IFV_0) {
 		/* Remove some obsolete groups. These have all been loaded into other groups. */
@@ -1402,7 +1408,7 @@ void SaveToConfig()
 
 	/* These variables are migrated from generic ini to private ini now. */
 	if (generic_version < IFV_NETWORK_PRIVATE_SETTINGS) {
-		IniGroup *network = generic_ini.GetGroup("network", false);
+		IniGroup *network = generic_ini.GetGroup("network");
 		if (network != nullptr) {
 			network->RemoveItem("no_http_content_downloads");
 			network->RemoveItem("use_relay_service");
diff --git a/src/settingsgen/settingsgen.cpp b/src/settingsgen/settingsgen.cpp
--- a/src/settingsgen/settingsgen.cpp
+++ b/src/settingsgen/settingsgen.cpp
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ static const char *DEFAULTS_GROUP_NAME  
  */
 static void DumpGroup(IniLoadFile &ifile, const char * const group_name)
 {
-	IniGroup *grp = ifile.GetGroup(group_name, false);
+	IniGroup *grp = ifile.GetGroup(group_name);
 	if (grp != nullptr && grp->type == IGT_SEQUENCE) {
 		for (IniItem *item = grp->item; item != nullptr; item = item->next) {
 			if (!item->name.empty()) {
@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ static void DumpSections(IniLoadFile &if
 {
 	static const char * const special_group_names[] = {PREAMBLE_GROUP_NAME, POSTAMBLE_GROUP_NAME, DEFAULTS_GROUP_NAME, TEMPLATES_GROUP_NAME, VALIDATION_GROUP_NAME, nullptr};
 
-	IniGroup *default_grp = ifile.GetGroup(DEFAULTS_GROUP_NAME, false);
-	IniGroup *templates_grp = ifile.GetGroup(TEMPLATES_GROUP_NAME, false);
-	IniGroup *validation_grp = ifile.GetGroup(VALIDATION_GROUP_NAME, false);
+	IniGroup *default_grp = ifile.GetGroup(DEFAULTS_GROUP_NAME);
+	IniGroup *templates_grp = ifile.GetGroup(TEMPLATES_GROUP_NAME);
+	IniGroup *validation_grp = ifile.GetGroup(VALIDATION_GROUP_NAME);
 	if (templates_grp == nullptr) return;
 
 	/* Output every group, using its name as template name. */