diff --git a/src/engine/openspaceengine.cpp b/src/engine/openspaceengine.cpp
index ab45c29135..dd5b4ea4b1 100644
--- a/src/engine/openspaceengine.cpp
+++ b/src/engine/openspaceengine.cpp
@@ -645,6 +645,8 @@ void OpenSpaceEngine::loadSingleAsset(const std::string& assetPath) {
     }
 
     _scene = std::make_unique<Scene>(std::move(sceneInitializer));
+    global::renderEngine.setScene(_scene.get());
+
     global::rootPropertyOwner.addPropertySubOwner(_scene.get());
     _scene->setCamera(std::make_unique<Camera>());
     Camera* camera = _scene->camera();
@@ -661,8 +663,6 @@ void OpenSpaceEngine::loadSingleAsset(const std::string& assetPath) {
         );
     }
 
-    global::renderEngine.setScene(_scene.get());
-
     _assetManager->removeAll();
     _assetManager->add(assetPath);
 
diff --git a/src/interaction/orbitalnavigator.cpp b/src/interaction/orbitalnavigator.cpp
index 3c02647633..d1180302da 100644
--- a/src/interaction/orbitalnavigator.cpp
+++ b/src/interaction/orbitalnavigator.cpp
@@ -581,6 +581,9 @@ void OrbitalNavigator::setAimNode(const std::string& aimNode) {
 }
 
 void OrbitalNavigator::startRetargetAnchor() {
+    if (!_anchorNode) {
+        return;
+    }
     const glm::dvec3 camPos = _camera->positionVec3();
     const glm::dvec3 camDir = _camera->viewDirectionWorldSpace();
 
@@ -600,6 +603,10 @@ void OrbitalNavigator::startRetargetAnchor() {
 }
 
 void OrbitalNavigator::startRetargetAim() {
+    if (!_aimNode) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     const glm::dvec3 camPos = _camera->positionVec3();
     const glm::dvec3 camDir = _camera->viewDirectionWorldSpace();
     const glm::dvec3 centerPos = _aimNode->worldPosition();