diff --git a/Docs/Changelog_sm-ssc.txt b/Docs/Changelog_sm-ssc.txt
index ffde2eaacb..528db84a6a 100644
--- a/Docs/Changelog_sm-ssc.txt
+++ b/Docs/Changelog_sm-ssc.txt
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ sm-ssc v1.2.3 | 201103??
 
 20110302
 --------
-* [ScreenGameplaySyncMachine] Allow themes to use either .ssc or .sm files. [AJ]
+* [ScreenGameplaySyncMachine] Allow themers to use either .ssc or .sm files. [AJ]
+* [ScreenHowToPlay] Allow themers to use either .ssc or .sm files. [AJ]
 
 20110301
 --------
diff --git a/src/ScreenGameplaySyncMachine.cpp b/src/ScreenGameplaySyncMachine.cpp
index 63895b18a9..165e7d02a8 100644
--- a/src/ScreenGameplaySyncMachine.cpp
+++ b/src/ScreenGameplaySyncMachine.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ void ScreenGameplaySyncMachine::Init()
 	AdjustSync::ResetOriginalSyncData();
 
 	RString sFile = THEME->GetPathO("ScreenGameplaySyncMachine","music");
-	// Allow themers to use .ssc and .sm files. -aj
+	// Allow themers to use either a .ssc or .sm file for this. -aj
 	if(sFile.Right(4) == ".ssc")
 		SSCLoader::LoadFromSSCFile( sFile, m_Song );
 	else
diff --git a/src/ScreenHowToPlay.cpp b/src/ScreenHowToPlay.cpp
index 44da5dd20c..70d79ce0c8 100644
--- a/src/ScreenHowToPlay.cpp
+++ b/src/ScreenHowToPlay.cpp
@@ -133,17 +133,19 @@ void ScreenHowToPlay::Init()
 		ActorUtil::LoadAllCommandsAndSetXY( m_pLifeMeterBar, m_sName );
 		m_pLifeMeterBar->FillForHowToPlay( NUM_W2S, NUM_MISSES );
 
-		// Allow themers to use .ssc and .sm files. -aj
-		bool bLoadedSSCFile = SSCLoader::LoadFromSSCFile( THEME->GetPathO(m_sName, "steps"), m_Song, false );
-		if( !bLoadedSSCFile )
-			SMLoader::LoadFromSMFile( THEME->GetPathO(m_sName, "steps"), m_Song, false );
+		// Allow themers to use either a .ssc or .sm file for this. -aj
+		RString sStepsPath = THEME->GetPathO(m_sName, "steps");
+		if( sPath.Right(4) == ".ssc" )
+			SSCLoader::LoadFromSSCFile( sStepsPath, m_Song, false );
+		else
+			SMLoader::LoadFromSMFile( sStepsPath, m_Song, false );
 		m_Song.AddAutoGenNotes();
 
 		const Style* pStyle = GAMESTATE->GetCurrentStyle();
 
 		Steps *pSteps = SongUtil::GetStepsByDescription( &m_Song, pStyle->m_StepsType, "" );
 		// todo: make StepsType human readable. -aj
-		ASSERT_M( pSteps != NULL, ssprintf("StepsType %i is NULL", pStyle->m_StepsType) );
+		ASSERT_M( pSteps != NULL, "No playable steps for ScreenHowToPlay" );
 
 		NoteData tempNoteData;
 		pSteps->GetNoteData( tempNoteData );