diff --git a/NewHorizons/Builder/Body/HeightMapBuilder.cs b/NewHorizons/Builder/Body/HeightMapBuilder.cs
index 3255b839..064ad645 100644
--- a/NewHorizons/Builder/Body/HeightMapBuilder.cs
+++ b/NewHorizons/Builder/Body/HeightMapBuilder.cs
@@ -23,23 +23,23 @@ namespace NewHorizons.Builder.Body
             Texture2D heightMap, textureMap, emissionMap;
             try
             {
-                if (module.heightMap != null && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.heightMap)))
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.heightMap) && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.heightMap)))
                 {
                     Logger.LogError($"Bad path for {planetGO.name} heightMap: {module.heightMap} couldn't be found.");
                     module.heightMap = null;
                 }
-                if (module.textureMap != null && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.textureMap)))
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.textureMap) && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.textureMap)))
                 {
                     Logger.LogError($"Bad path for {planetGO.name} textureMap: {module.textureMap} couldn't be found.");
                     module.textureMap = null;
                 }
-                if (module.emissionMap != null && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.emissionMap)))
+                if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.emissionMap) && !File.Exists(Path.Combine(mod.ModHelper.Manifest.ModFolderPath, module.emissionMap)))
                 {
                     Logger.LogError($"Bad path for {planetGO.name} emissionMap: {module.emissionMap} couldn't be found.");
                     module.emissionMap = null;
                 }
 
-                if (module.heightMap == null)
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.heightMap))
                 {
                     heightMap = Texture2D.whiteTexture;
                 }
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ namespace NewHorizons.Builder.Body
                     heightMap = ImageUtilities.GetTexture(mod, module.heightMap);
                 }
 
-                if (module.textureMap == null)
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.textureMap))
                 {
                     textureMap = Texture2D.whiteTexture;
                 }
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace NewHorizons.Builder.Body
                     textureMap = ImageUtilities.GetTexture(mod, module.textureMap);
                 }
 
-                if (module.emissionMap == null)
+                if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(module.emissionMap))
                 {
                     emissionMap = Texture2D.blackTexture;
                 }
diff --git a/NewHorizons/Builder/Props/ScatterBuilder.cs b/NewHorizons/Builder/Props/ScatterBuilder.cs
index dffcc47a..f6583c4d 100644
--- a/NewHorizons/Builder/Props/ScatterBuilder.cs
+++ b/NewHorizons/Builder/Props/ScatterBuilder.cs
@@ -41,10 +41,13 @@ namespace NewHorizons.Builder.Props
             {
                 try
                 {
-                    // TODO copy what heightmap builder does eventually 
-                    heightMapTexture = ImageUtilities.GetTexture(mod, heightMap.heightMap);
-                    // defer remove texture to next frame
-                    Delay.FireOnNextUpdate(() => Object.Destroy(heightMapTexture));
+                    if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(heightMap.heightMap))
+                    {
+                        // TODO copy what heightmap builder does eventually 
+                        heightMapTexture = ImageUtilities.GetTexture(mod, heightMap.heightMap);
+                        // defer remove texture to next frame
+                        Delay.FireOnNextUpdate(() => Object.Destroy(heightMapTexture));
+                    }
                 }
                 catch (Exception) { }
                 if (heightMapTexture == null)