diff --git a/mod/generate.go b/mod/generate.go
index f26a066..fc7136c 100644
--- a/mod/generate.go
+++ b/mod/generate.go
@@ -85,15 +85,21 @@ func (m *Mod) generate(raw types.J) error {
 
 	ext := "_path"
 	for _, stringbased := range ExpectedStr {
-		tryPut(&m.Data, stringbased+ext, stringbased, luaGet)
+		if err := tryPut(&m.Data, stringbased+ext, stringbased, luaGet); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	for _, objbased := range ExpectedObj {
-		tryPut(&m.Data, objbased+ext, objbased, plainObj)
+		if err := tryPut(&m.Data, objbased+ext, objbased, plainObj); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	for _, objarraybased := range ExpectedObjArr {
-		tryPut(&m.Data, objarraybased+ext, objarraybased, objArray)
+		if err := tryPut(&m.Data, objarraybased+ext, objarraybased, objArray); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	lh := handler.NewLuaHandler()
@@ -123,7 +129,10 @@ func (m *Mod) generate(raw types.J) error {
 	}
 
 	objOrder := []string{}
-	files, _, _ := m.Objdirs.ListFilesAndFolders("")
+	files, _, err := m.Objdirs.ListFilesAndFolders("")
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ListFilesAndFolders(\"\"): %v", err)
+	}
 	hasObjects := len(files) > 0
 
 	err = file.ForceParseIntoStrArray(&m.Data, "ObjectStates_order", &objOrder)
@@ -156,19 +165,19 @@ func (m *Mod) Print(basename string) error {
 	}
 }
 
-func tryPut(d *types.J, from, to string, fun func(string) (interface{}, error)) {
+func tryPut(d *types.J, from, to string, fun func(string) (interface{}, error)) error {
 	if d == nil {
 		log.Println("Nil objects")
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	var o interface{}
-	fromFile, ok := (*d)[from]
-	if !ok {
+	fromFile, pathPresent := (*d)[from]
+	if !pathPresent {
 		fromFile = ""
 		if _, ok := (*d)[to]; ok {
-			// if there is not special key, but there is existant key, don't replace anything.
-			return
+			// if there is no special key, but there is an existing key, don't replace anything.
+			return nil
 		}
 	}
 	filename, ok := fromFile.(string)
@@ -177,9 +186,15 @@ func tryPut(d *types.J, from, to string, fun func(string) (interface{}, error))
 		filename = ""
 	}
 
-	o, _ = fun(filename)
-	// ignore error for now
+	o, err := fun(filename)
+	if err != nil && pathPresent && filename != "" {
+		// A present *_path key naming a real file that fails to read is a broken
+		// pointer and must fail loudly. An absent key (empty filename) is a normal
+		// optional field, so stay lenient and fall through with the zero value.
+		return fmt.Errorf("could not resolve %q for key %q: %v", filename, to, err)
+	}
 
 	(*d)[to] = o
 	delete((*d), from)
+	return nil
 }
diff --git a/mod/generate_test.go b/mod/generate_test.go
index f6d2711..e309458 100644
--- a/mod/generate_test.go
+++ b/mod/generate_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package mod
 import (
 	"ModCreator/tests"
 	"ModCreator/types"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/google/go-cmp/cmp"
@@ -288,3 +289,62 @@ func TestGenerate(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestGenerateBrokenPointer ensures that a present *_path key naming a file that
+// cannot be read fails loudly rather than silently producing an empty value.
+func TestGenerateBrokenPointer(t *testing.T) {
+	rootff := &tests.FakeFiles{
+		Data: map[string]types.J{
+			"config.json": map[string]interface{}{
+				// points at a lua file that was never written to disk
+				"LuaScriptState_path": "missing/does-not-exist.luascriptstate",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	m := Mod{
+		RootRead:    rootff,
+		RootWrite:   rootff,
+		Lua:         &tests.FakeFiles{Fs: map[string]string{}},
+		Modsettings: &tests.FakeFiles{},
+		Objs:        &tests.FakeFiles{},
+		Objdirs:     &tests.FakeFiles{},
+	}
+	err := m.GenerateFromConfig()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("expected error for broken *_path pointer, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "missing/does-not-exist.luascriptstate") {
+		t.Errorf("error should name the missing file, got: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestGenerateAbsentOptionalKey ensures that an optional key that is simply
+// absent from config (no *_path and no inline value) stays lenient and does not
+// error.
+func TestGenerateAbsentOptionalKey(t *testing.T) {
+	rootff := &tests.FakeFiles{
+		Data: map[string]types.J{
+			"config.json": map[string]interface{}{
+				"SaveName": "a mod with no externalized optional fields",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	m := Mod{
+		RootRead:    rootff,
+		RootWrite:   rootff,
+		Lua:         &tests.FakeFiles{Fs: map[string]string{}},
+		Modsettings: &tests.FakeFiles{},
+		Objs:        &tests.FakeFiles{},
+		Objdirs:     &tests.FakeFiles{},
+	}
+	if err := m.GenerateFromConfig(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("absent optional keys should not error, got: %v", err)
+	}
+	if got := m.Data["SaveName"]; got != "a mod with no externalized optional fields" {
+		t.Errorf("SaveName not preserved, got %v", got)
+	}
+	// An absent optional string key is still filled with its zero value.
+	if got, ok := m.Data["LuaScriptState"]; !ok || got != "" {
+		t.Errorf("absent optional key LuaScriptState should be zero-valued, got %v (present=%v)", got, ok)
+	}
+}