diff --git a/src/engine/gameManager/NPCManager.java b/src/engine/gameManager/NPCManager.java
index 4c111838..daffd23c 100644
--- a/src/engine/gameManager/NPCManager.java
+++ b/src/engine/gameManager/NPCManager.java
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ public enum NPCManager {
 
     public static void applyRuneSetEffects(Mob mob) {
 
-        EffectsBase effectsBase;
+        // Early exit
+
+        if (mob.runeSetID == 0)
+            return;;
 
         //Apply all rune effects.
 
@@ -61,6 +64,11 @@ public enum NPCManager {
         EffectsBase effectsBase;
         RuneBase sourceRune = RuneBase.getRuneBase(runeID);
 
+        // Race runes are in the runeset but not in runebase for some reason
+
+        if (sourceRune == null)
+            return;;
+
         for (MobBaseEffects mbe : sourceRune.getEffectsList()) {
 
             effectsBase = PowersManager.getEffectByToken(mbe.getToken());
diff --git a/src/engine/objects/Mob.java b/src/engine/objects/Mob.java
index 08e11072..0bc25e34 100644
--- a/src/engine/objects/Mob.java
+++ b/src/engine/objects/Mob.java
@@ -2106,13 +2106,7 @@ public class Mob extends AbstractIntelligenceAgent {
 
         try {
             NPCManager.applyRuneSetEffects(this);
-
-            try {
-                this.initializeSkills();
-            } catch (Exception e) {
-                Logger.error(e.getMessage());
-            }
-
+            initializeSkills();
             recalculateStats();
             this.setHealth(this.healthMax);