diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
index e1d644bb000..59313dee4ab 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences.dm
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 
 	ui = SStgui.try_update_ui(user, src, ui)
 	if(!ui)
+		tainted_character_profiles = TRUE
 		character_preview_view = create_character_preview_view(user)
 		ui = new(user, src, "PreferencesMenu")
 		ui.set_autoupdate(FALSE)
@@ -179,8 +180,6 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_EMPTY(preferences_datums)
 /datum/preferences/ui_static_data(mob/user)
 	var/list/data = list()
 
-	data["character_profiles"] = create_character_profiles()
-
 	data["character_preview_view"] = character_preview_view.assigned_map
 	data["overflow_role"] = SSjob.get_job_type(SSjob.overflow_role).title
 	data["window"] = current_window
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences/middleware/quirks.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences/middleware/quirks.dm
index 6705b0262c2..f950db61564 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences/middleware/quirks.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences/middleware/quirks.dm
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@
 
 /datum/preference_middleware/quirks/on_new_character(mob/user)
 	tainted = TRUE
+	preferences.update_static_data(user, always_instant = TRUE)
 
 /datum/preference_middleware/quirks/proc/give_quirk(list/params, mob/user)
 	var/quirk_name = params["quirk"]
diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
index 6dd20be22f5..639ba4afea6 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences_savefile.dm
@@ -348,6 +348,13 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 
 	var/tree_key = "character[slot]"
 	var/list/save_data = savefile.get_entry(tree_key)
+	if(isnull(save_data))
+		for (var/datum/preference/preference as anything in get_preferences_in_priority_order())
+			if (preference.savefile_identifier != PREFERENCE_CHARACTER)
+				continue
+			value_cache -= preference.type
+		return FALSE
+
 	var/data_validity_integer = check_savedata_version(save_data)
 	if(IS_DATA_OBSOLETE(data_validity_integer)) //fatal, can't load any data
 		return FALSE
@@ -437,6 +444,8 @@ SAVEFILE UPDATING/VERSIONING - 'Simplified', or rather, more coder-friendly ~Car
 	if (!load_character(new_slot))
 		tainted_character_profiles = TRUE
 		randomise_appearance_prefs()
+		all_quirks = list()
+		recently_updated_keys |= /datum/preference/name/real_name
 		save_character()
 
 	for (var/datum/preference_middleware/preference_middleware as anything in middleware)