diff --git a/code/freespace2/freespace.cpp b/code/freespace2/freespace.cpp
index bc89b98..8af5e36 100644
--- a/code/freespace2/freespace.cpp
+++ b/code/freespace2/freespace.cpp
@@ -2037,7 +2037,8 @@ void game_init()
        pilot_load_pic_list();  
        pilot_load_squad_pic_list();
 
-       load_animating_pointer(NOX("cursor"), 0, 0);    
+       if(!Is_standalone)
+               load_animating_pointer(NOX("cursor"), 0, 0);    
 
        if(!Cmdline_reparse_mainhall)
        {
diff --git a/code/gamehelp/contexthelp.cpp b/code/gamehelp/contexthelp.cpp
index 783518d..daa7e6c 100644
--- a/code/gamehelp/contexthelp.cpp
+++ b/code/gamehelp/contexthelp.cpp
@@ -299,12 +299,14 @@ void help_overlay_init()
        // load right_bracket bitmap
        help_right_bracket_bitmap = bm_load("right_bracket");
        // we failed to load the bitmap - this is very bad
-       Assertion( help_right_bracket_bitmap >= 0, "Failed to load bitmap right_bracket for help overlay\n");
+       if (!Is_standalone)
+               Assertion( help_right_bracket_bitmap >= 0, "Failed to load bitmap right_bracket for help overlay\n");
 
        // load left_bracket bitmap
        help_left_bracket_bitmap = bm_load("left_bracket");
        // we failed to load the bitmap - this is very bad
-       Assertion( help_left_bracket_bitmap >= 0, "Failed to load bitmap left_bracket for help overlay\n");
+       if (!Is_standalone)
+               Assertion( help_left_bracket_bitmap >= 0, "Failed to load bitmap left_bracket for help overlay\n");
 
        atexit(close_help);
 
diff --git a/code/graphics/2d.cpp b/code/graphics/2d.cpp
index 29edc91..9e7fe14 100644
--- a/code/graphics/2d.cpp
+++ b/code/graphics/2d.cpp
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ bool gr_init(int d_mode, int d_width, int d_height, int d_depth)
        }
 
        // load the web pointer cursor bitmap
-       if (Web_cursor_bitmap < 0) {
+       if ( (Web_cursor_bitmap < 0) && !Is_standalone) {
                //if it still hasn't loaded then this usually means that the executable isn't in the same directory as the main fs2 install
                if ( (Web_cursor_bitmap = bm_load_animation("cursorweb")) < 0 ) {
                        Error(LOCATION, "\nWeb cursor bitmap not found.  This is most likely due to one of three reasons:\n"