diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index d85f0b7e..06e98544 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ Saves from 4.0.0 are compatible with 4.1.0.
 * **[Mission Generation]** The lua data for other plugins is now generated correctly
 * **[Mission Generation]** The legacy always-available tanker option no longer prevents mission creation.
 * **[UI]** Statistics window tick marks are now always integers.
+* **[UI]** Toggling custom loadout for an aircraft with no preset loadouts no longer breaks the flight.
 
 # 4.0.0
 
diff --git a/gen/flights/loadouts.py b/gen/flights/loadouts.py
index 0a51245a..5906315e 100644
--- a/gen/flights/loadouts.py
+++ b/gen/flights/loadouts.py
@@ -133,4 +133,8 @@ class Loadout:
                 )
 
         # TODO: Try group.load_task_default_loadout(loadout_for_task)
+        return cls.empty_loadout()
+
+    @classmethod
+    def empty_loadout(cls) -> Loadout:
         return Loadout("Empty", {}, date=None)
diff --git a/qt_ui/windows/mission/flight/payload/QFlightPayloadTab.py b/qt_ui/windows/mission/flight/payload/QFlightPayloadTab.py
index 5cf5b370..b1eb809e 100644
--- a/qt_ui/windows/mission/flight/payload/QFlightPayloadTab.py
+++ b/qt_ui/windows/mission/flight/payload/QFlightPayloadTab.py
@@ -47,8 +47,20 @@ class QFlightPayloadTab(QFrame):
     def reload_from_flight(self) -> None:
         self.loadout_selector.setCurrentText(self.flight.loadout.name)
 
+    def loadout_at(self, index: int) -> Loadout:
+        loadout = self.loadout_selector.itemData(index)
+        if loadout is None:
+            return Loadout.empty_loadout()
+        return loadout
+
+    def current_loadout(self) -> Loadout:
+        loadout = self.loadout_selector.currentData()
+        if loadout is None:
+            return Loadout.empty_loadout()
+        return loadout
+
     def on_new_loadout(self, index: int) -> None:
-        self.flight.loadout = self.loadout_selector.itemData(index)
+        self.flight.loadout = self.loadout_at(index)
         self.payload_editor.reset_pylons()
 
     def on_custom_toggled(self, use_custom: bool) -> None:
@@ -56,5 +68,5 @@ class QFlightPayloadTab(QFrame):
         if use_custom:
             self.flight.loadout = self.flight.loadout.derive_custom("Custom")
         else:
-            self.flight.loadout = self.loadout_selector.currentData()
+            self.flight.loadout = self.current_loadout()
             self.payload_editor.reset_pylons()