diff --git a/game/db.py b/game/db.py
index 948a37ac..c19af009 100644
--- a/game/db.py
+++ b/game/db.py
@@ -911,7 +911,7 @@ CARRIER_TAKEOFF_BAN: List[Type[FlyingType]] = [
 Units separated by country. 
 country : DCS Country name
 """
-FACTIONS: Dict[str, Faction] = FactionLoader.load_factions()
+FACTIONS = FactionLoader()
 
 CARRIER_TYPE_BY_PLANE = {
     FA_18C_hornet: CVN_74_John_C__Stennis,
diff --git a/game/factions/faction_loader.py b/game/factions/faction_loader.py
index f20f5a68..9ed83442 100644
--- a/game/factions/faction_loader.py
+++ b/game/factions/faction_loader.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import json
 import logging
 from pathlib import Path
-from typing import Dict, Type
+from typing import Dict, Iterator, Optional, Type
 
 from game.factions.faction import Faction
 
@@ -10,6 +10,17 @@ FACTION_DIRECTORY = Path("./resources/factions/")
 
 
 class FactionLoader:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self._factions: Optional[Dict[str, Faction]] = None
+
+    @property
+    def factions(self) -> Dict[str, Faction]:
+        self.initialize()
+        return self._factions
+
+    def initialize(self) -> None:
+        if self._factions is None:
+            self._factions = self.load_factions()
 
     @classmethod
     def load_factions(cls: Type[FactionLoader]) -> Dict[str, Faction]:
@@ -26,3 +37,9 @@ class FactionLoader:
                 logging.exception(f"Unable to load faction : {f}")
 
         return factions
+
+    def __getitem__(self, name: str) -> Faction:
+        return self.factions[name]
+
+    def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[str]:
+        return iter(self.factions.keys())
diff --git a/qt_ui/main.py b/qt_ui/main.py
index 9503fb58..c638e476 100644
--- a/qt_ui/main.py
+++ b/qt_ui/main.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from PySide2 import QtWidgets
 from PySide2.QtGui import QPixmap
 from PySide2.QtWidgets import QApplication, QSplashScreen
 
-from game import persistency
+from game import db, persistency
 from qt_ui import (
     liberation_install,
     liberation_theme,
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ from qt_ui.windows.preferences.QLiberationFirstStartWindow import \
 logging_config.init_logging(uiconstants.VERSION_STRING)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Load eagerly to catch errors early.
+    db.FACTIONS.initialize()
 
     os.environ["QT_AUTO_SCREEN_SCALE_FACTOR"] = "1" # Potential fix for 4K screens
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)