diff --git a/Docs/Luadoc/LuaDocumentation.xml b/Docs/Luadoc/LuaDocumentation.xml
index bf68845f0e..d6999e4873 100644
--- a/Docs/Luadoc/LuaDocumentation.xml
+++ b/Docs/Luadoc/LuaDocumentation.xml
@@ -472,8 +472,8 @@ save yourself some time, copy this for undocumented things:
 		"Sets the real value of <code>t[index]</code> to <code>value</code>, without invoking any metamethod."
 		The modified <code>t</code> is then returned.
 	</Function>
-	<Function name='ResolveRelativePath' theme='_fallback' return='string' arguments='string path, int level'>
-		[02 ActorDef.lua]
+	<Function name='ResolveRelativePath' theme='_fallback' return='string' arguments='string path, int level, bool optional'>
+		[02 ActorDef.lua] Used internally by LoadActor to resolve a path.  If <code>optional</code> is true, then a nil path is returned instead of emitting an error if no file is found.
 	</Function>
 	<Function name='ReadFile' theme='_fallback' return='string' arguments='string path'>
 		[04 FileUtils.lua] Reads the file at <code>path</code> and returns its contents.
@@ -700,7 +700,9 @@ save yourself some time, copy this for undocumented things:
 	<Function name='LoadAllCommandsAndSetXY' return='void' arguments='Actor a'>
 		Loads all commands and sets X and Y for the specified Actor.
 	</Function>
-	<Function name='ResolvePath' return='string' arguments='string sPath, int iLevel' />
+	<Function name='ResolvePath' return='string' arguments='string sPath, int iLevel, bool optional'>
+		Used internally by LoadActor to resolve a path.  If <code>optional</code> is true, then a nil path is returned instead of emitting an error if no file is found.
+	</Function>
 </Namespace>
 <Namespace name='ArrowEffects'>
 	<Function name='Update' return='void' arguments=''>
diff --git a/Themes/_fallback/Scripts/02 ActorDef.lua b/Themes/_fallback/Scripts/02 ActorDef.lua
index 2ce2f98b54..13fb5c0394 100644
--- a/Themes/_fallback/Scripts/02 ActorDef.lua	
+++ b/Themes/_fallback/Scripts/02 ActorDef.lua	
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ setmetatable( Def, {
 	end,
 })
 
-function ResolveRelativePath( path, level )
+function ResolveRelativePath(path, level, optional)
 	if path:sub(1,1) ~= "/" then
 		-- "Working directory":
 		local sDir = DebugPathToRealPath( debug.getinfo(level+1,"S").source )
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ function ResolveRelativePath( path, level )
 		path = sDir .. path
 	end
 
-	path = ActorUtil.ResolvePath( path, level+1 )
+	path = ActorUtil.ResolvePath(path, level+1, optional)
 	return path
 end
 
diff --git a/src/ActorUtil.cpp b/src/ActorUtil.cpp
index d4435b7615..70c2aa891f 100644
--- a/src/ActorUtil.cpp
+++ b/src/ActorUtil.cpp
@@ -623,13 +623,14 @@ namespace
 	{
 		RString sPath( SArg(1) );
 		int iLevel = IArg(2);
+		bool optional= lua_toboolean(L, 3);
 		luaL_where( L, iLevel );
 		RString sWhere = lua_tostring( L, -1 );
 		if( sWhere.size() > 2 && sWhere.substr(sWhere.size()-2, 2) == ": " )
 			sWhere = sWhere.substr( 0, sWhere.size()-2 ); // remove trailing ": "
 
 		LUA->YieldLua();
-		bool bRet = ActorUtil::ResolvePath( sPath, sWhere );
+		bool bRet = ActorUtil::ResolvePath(sPath, sWhere, optional);
 		LUA->UnyieldLua();
 
 		if( !bRet )