diff --git a/src/NoteField.cpp b/src/NoteField.cpp
index 0b03ed1823..f1686dfff5 100644
--- a/src/NoteField.cpp
+++ b/src/NoteField.cpp
@@ -221,7 +221,19 @@ void NoteField::Load(
 	ASSERT_M(m_pNoteData->GetNumTracks() == GAMESTATE->GetCurrentStyle(m_pPlayerState->m_PlayerNumber)->m_iColsPerPlayer,
 		 ssprintf("NumTracks %d = ColsPerPlayer %d",m_pNoteData->GetNumTracks(),
 			  GAMESTATE->GetCurrentStyle(m_pPlayerState->m_PlayerNumber)->m_iColsPerPlayer));
-	
+
+	// If we're in routine mode, the noteskin is forcibly set to the routine
+	// noteskin metrics (which is bad in its own way).  The noteskin set in the
+	// options is ignored and probably already set anyway. -Kyz
+	if(GAMESTATE->GetCurrentStyle(m_pPlayerState->m_PlayerNumber)->m_StyleType != StyleType_TwoPlayersSharedSides)
+	{
+		ensure_note_displays_have_skin();
+	}
+	InitColumnRenderers();
+}
+
+void NoteField::ensure_note_displays_have_skin()
+{
 	// The NoteSkin may have changed at the beginning of a new course song.
 	RString sNoteSkinLower = m_pPlayerState->m_PlayerOptions.GetCurrent().m_sNoteSkin;
 
@@ -265,7 +277,6 @@ void NoteField::Load(
 		ASSERT_M( it != m_NoteDisplays.end(), sNoteSkinLower );
 		m_pDisplays[pn] = it->second;
 	}
-	InitColumnRenderers();
 }
 
 void NoteField::InitColumnRenderers()
diff --git a/src/NoteField.h b/src/NoteField.h
index f49670131a..0a347023ee 100644
--- a/src/NoteField.h
+++ b/src/NoteField.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ public:
 		int iDrawDistanceBeforeTargetsPixels );
 	virtual void Unload();
 
+	void ensure_note_displays_have_skin();
 	void InitColumnRenderers();
 
 	virtual void HandleMessage( const Message &msg );