diff --git a/stepmania/src/Character.cpp b/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
index 9f4043181c..ebf9d18c24 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Character.cpp
@@ -2,10 +2,13 @@
 #include "Character.h"
 #include "IniFile.h"
 #include "RageUtil.h"
+#include "RageTextureID.h"
 
 
 bool Character::Load( CString sCharDir )
 {
+	m_Preload.UnloadAll();
+	
 	// Save character directory
 	if( sCharDir.Right(1) != "/" )
 		sCharDir += "/";
@@ -33,6 +36,10 @@ bool Character::Load( CString sCharDir )
 	// get display name (if any)
 	ini.GetValue( "Character", "DisplayName", m_sDisplayName );
 
+	CString sIconPath = GetIconPath();
+	if( !sIconPath.empty() )
+		m_Preload.Load( sIconPath );
+
 	return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Character.h b/stepmania/src/Character.h
index 067214e2f5..dc81a4653d 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Character.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/Character.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #define Character_H
 
 #include "GameConstantsAndTypes.h"
+#include "RageTexturePreloader.h"
 struct lua_State;
 typedef lua_State Lua;
 
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@ public:
 	bool	m_bUsableInRave;	
 
 	CString	m_sAttacks[NUM_ATTACK_LEVELS][NUM_ATTACKS_PER_LEVEL];
+	RageTexturePreloader m_Preload;
 };
 
 #endif