diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
index 5fe22f8d8d..6a4bfe5ed0 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/LoadScreens/BlankLoadScreen.cs
@@ -77,12 +77,19 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.LoadScreens
 			}
 
 			// Load a replay directly
-			var replay = args != null ? args.GetValue("Launch.Replay", null) : null;
-			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(replay))
+			var replayFilename = args != null ? args.GetValue("Launch.Replay", null) : null;
+			if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(replayFilename))
 			{
-				var replayMeta = ReplayMetadata.Read(replay);
-				if (ReplayUtils.CheckReplayCompatibility(replayMeta, Game.LoadShellMap))
-					Game.JoinReplay(replay);
+				var replayMeta = ReplayMetadata.Read(replayFilename);
+				if (ReplayUtils.PromptConfirmReplayCompatibility(replayMeta, Game.LoadShellMap))
+					Game.JoinReplay(replayFilename);
+
+				if (replayMeta != null)
+				{
+					var mod = replayMeta.GameInfo.Mod;
+					if (mod != null && mod != Game.ModData.Manifest.Mod.Id && ModMetadata.AllMods.ContainsKey(mod))
+						Game.InitializeMod(mod, args);
+				}
 
 				return;
 			}
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayBrowserLogic.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayBrowserLogic.cs
index f88ec0bb55..d02cf5d211 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayBrowserLogic.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayBrowserLogic.cs
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 				onStart();
 			};
 
-			if (selectedReplay != null && ReplayUtils.CheckReplayCompatibility(selectedReplay))
+			if (selectedReplay != null && ReplayUtils.PromptConfirmReplayCompatibility(selectedReplay))
 				startReplay();
 		}
 
diff --git a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayUtils.cs b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayUtils.cs
index e4720127c2..053c9bc61f 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayUtils.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Mods.Common/Widgets/Logic/ReplayUtils.cs
@@ -17,34 +17,37 @@ namespace OpenRA.Mods.Common.Widgets.Logic
 	{
 		static readonly Action DoNothing = () => { };
 
-		public static bool CheckReplayCompatibility(ReplayMetadata replayMeta, Action onCancel = null)
+		public static bool PromptConfirmReplayCompatibility(ReplayMetadata replayMeta, Action onCancel = null)
 		{
 			if (onCancel == null)
 				onCancel = DoNothing;
 
-			var mod = replayMeta.GameInfo.Mod;
-			if (mod == null)
-				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("an unknown mod", mod, onCancel);
+			if (replayMeta == null)
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("outdated engine", null, onCancel);
 
 			var version = replayMeta.GameInfo.Version;
 			if (version == null)
-				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("an unknown version", version, onCancel);
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("unknown version", version, onCancel);
+
+			var mod = replayMeta.GameInfo.Mod;
+			if (mod == null)
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("unknown mod", mod, onCancel);
 
 			var allMods = ModMetadata.AllMods;
 			if (!allMods.ContainsKey(mod))
-				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("an unavailable mod", mod, onCancel);
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("unavailable mod", mod, onCancel);
 			else if (allMods[mod].Version != version)
-				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("an incompatible version", version, onCancel);
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("incompatible version", version, onCancel);
 
 			if (replayMeta.GameInfo.MapPreview.Status != MapStatus.Available)
-				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("an unavailable map", replayMeta.GameInfo.MapUid,  onCancel);
-			else
-				return true;
+				return IncompatibleReplayDialog("unavailable map", replayMeta.GameInfo.MapUid,  onCancel);
+
+			return true;
 		}
 
 		static bool IncompatibleReplayDialog(string type, string name, Action onCancel)
 		{
-			var error = "It was recorded with " + type;
+			var error = "It was recorded with an " + type;
 			error += string.IsNullOrEmpty(name) ? "." : ":\n{0}".F(name);
 
 			ConfirmationDialogs.CancelPrompt("Incompatible Replay", error, onCancel);