diff --git a/src/AutoSplit.py b/src/AutoSplit.py
index c5be879d..58c5cfd9 100644
--- a/src/AutoSplit.py
+++ b/src/AutoSplit.py
@@ -270,17 +270,7 @@ def __load_start_image(self, started_by_button: bool = False, wait_for_delay: bo
             QApplication.processEvents()
             return
 
-        if self.start_image:
-            if not self.is_auto_controlled \
-                    and (
-                        not self.settings_dict["split_hotkey"]
-                        or not self.settings_dict["reset_hotkey"]
-                        or not self.settings_dict["pause_hotkey"]
-                    ):
-                error_messages.load_start_image()
-                QApplication.processEvents()
-                return
-        else:
+        if not self.start_image:
             if started_by_button:
                 error_messages.no_keyword_image(START_KEYWORD)
             QApplication.processEvents()
@@ -518,7 +508,9 @@ def __auto_splitter(self):  # noqa: PLR0912,PLR0915
         self.run_start_time = time()
 
         if not (validate_before_parsing(self) and parse_and_validate_images(self)):
-            self.gui_changes_on_reset(True)
+            # `safe_to_reload_start_image: bool = False` becasue __load_start_image also does this check,
+            # we don't want to double a start/reset image error message
+            self.gui_changes_on_reset(False)
             return
 
         # Construct a list of images + loop count tuples.
diff --git a/src/error_messages.py b/src/error_messages.py
index 63462140..15f3b66b 100644
--- a/src/error_messages.py
+++ b/src/error_messages.py
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ def check_for_updates():
 
 def load_start_image():
     set_text_message(
-        "Start Image found, but cannot be loaded unless Start, Reset, and Pause hotkeys are set. "
-        + "Please set these hotkeys, and then click the Reload Start Image button.",
+        "Start Image found, but cannot be loaded unless Start hotkey is set. "
+        + "Please set the hotkey, and then click the Reload Start Image button.",
     )
 
 
diff --git a/src/split_parser.py b/src/split_parser.py
index 250c866d..468ca0d3 100644
--- a/src/split_parser.py
+++ b/src/split_parser.py
@@ -186,6 +186,26 @@ def parse_and_validate_images(autosplit: AutoSplit):
     autosplit.reset_image = __pop_image_type(all_images, ImageType.RESET)
     autosplit.split_images = all_images
 
+    # If there is no start hotkey set but a start image is present, and is not auto controlled, throw an error.
+    if (
+        autosplit.start_image
+        and not autosplit.settings_dict["split_hotkey"]
+        and not autosplit.is_auto_controlled
+    ):
+        autosplit.gui_changes_on_reset()
+        error_messages.load_start_image()
+        return False
+
+    # If there is no reset hotkey set but a reset image is present, and is not auto controlled, throw an error.
+    if (
+        autosplit.reset_image
+        and not autosplit.settings_dict["reset_hotkey"]
+        and not autosplit.is_auto_controlled
+    ):
+        autosplit.gui_changes_on_reset()
+        error_messages.reset_hotkey()
+        return False
+
     # Make sure that each of the images follows the guidelines for correct format
     # according to all of the settings selected by the user.
     for image in autosplit.split_images:
@@ -206,11 +226,6 @@ def parse_and_validate_images(autosplit: AutoSplit):
 
         # Check that there's only one reset image
         if image.image_type == ImageType.RESET:
-            # If there is no reset hotkey set but a reset image is present, and is not auto controlled, throw an error.
-            if not autosplit.settings_dict["reset_hotkey"] and not autosplit.is_auto_controlled:
-                autosplit.gui_changes_on_reset()
-                error_messages.reset_hotkey()
-                return False
             autosplit.gui_changes_on_reset()
             error_messages.multiple_keyword_images(RESET_KEYWORD)
             return False