diff --git a/src/berserk.c b/src/berserk.c
index 53af2de..3bcbac7 100644
--- a/src/berserk.c
+++ b/src/berserk.c
@@ -49,7 +49,10 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
     if (argc > 2)
       depth = Max(1, atoi(argv[2]));
 
-    Bench(depth);
+    if (NETWORK_LOADED)
+      Bench(depth);
+    else
+      printf("info string ERROR: no network loaded (built without an embedded net)\n");
   } else {
     UCILoop();
   }
diff --git a/src/nn/evaluate.c b/src/nn/evaluate.c
index 35a2d7e..0802512 100644
--- a/src/nn/evaluate.c
+++ b/src/nn/evaluate.c
@@ -29,11 +29,16 @@
 #include "../util.h"
 #include "accumulator.h"
 
+#ifndef NO_EMBED_NET
 #define INCBIN_PREFIX
 #define INCBIN_STYLE INCBIN_STYLE_CAMEL
 #include "../incbin.h"
 
 INCBIN(Embed, EVALFILE);
+#endif
+
+// 1 once a network is in memory (embedded or loaded via EvalFile)
+int NETWORK_LOADED = 0;
 
 #define QUANT1_BITS 5
 #define QUANT2_BITS 12
@@ -960,7 +965,10 @@ INLINE void InitLookupIndices() {
 void LoadDefaultNN() {
   InitLookupIndices();
 
+#ifndef NO_EMBED_NET
   CopyData(EmbedData);
+  NETWORK_LOADED = 1;
+#endif
 }
 
 int LoadNetwork(char* path) {
@@ -973,10 +981,13 @@ int LoadNetwork(char* path) {
   uint8_t* data = malloc(NETWORK_SIZE);
   if (fread(data, sizeof(uint8_t), NETWORK_SIZE, fin) != NETWORK_SIZE) {
     printf("info string Error reading file at %s\n", path);
+    fclose(fin);
+    free(data);
     return 0;
   }
 
   CopyData(data);
+  NETWORK_LOADED = 1;
 
   for (int i = 0; i < Threads.count; i++)
     ResetRefreshTable(Threads.threads[i]->refreshTable);
diff --git a/src/nn/evaluate.h b/src/nn/evaluate.h
index feaa07d..e72d1f5 100644
--- a/src/nn/evaluate.h
+++ b/src/nn/evaluate.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 int Predict(Board* board);
 int Propagate(Accumulator* accumulator, const int stm);
 
+extern int NETWORK_LOADED;
 void LoadDefaultNN();
 int LoadNetwork(char* path);
 
diff --git a/src/uci.c b/src/uci.c
index 8d254f1..94fc0bc 100644
--- a/src/uci.c
+++ b/src/uci.c
@@ -300,6 +300,11 @@ void UCILoop() {
       TTClear();
       SearchClear();
     } else if (!strncmp(in, "go", 2)) {
+      if (!NETWORK_LOADED) {
+        printf("info string ERROR: no network loaded, send setoption name EvalFile value <path>\n");
+        printf("bestmove 0000\n");
+        continue;
+      }
       ParseGo(in, &board);
     } else if (!strncmp(in, "stop", 4)) {
       if (Threads.searching) {
@@ -352,7 +357,10 @@ void UCILoop() {
       char* d = strtok(NULL, " ") ?: "13";
 
       int depth = atoi(d);
-      Bench(depth);
+      if (!NETWORK_LOADED)
+        printf("info string ERROR: no network loaded, send setoption name EvalFile value <path>\n");
+      else
+        Bench(depth);
     } else if (!strncmp(in, "threats", 7)) {
       PrintBB(board.threatened);
     } else if (!strncmp(in, "eval", 4)) {