diff --git a/public/script.js b/public/script.js
index 975f12065..753e6b7d3 100644
--- a/public/script.js
+++ b/public/script.js
@@ -1028,12 +1028,22 @@ export function setAnimationDuration(ms = null) {
     document.documentElement.style.setProperty('--animation-duration', `${animation_duration}ms`);
 }
 
+/**
+ * Sets the currently active character
+ * @param {object|number|string} [entityOrKey] - An entity with id property (character, group, tag), or directly an id or tag key. If not provided, the active character is reset to `null`.
+ */
 export function setActiveCharacter(entityOrKey) {
-    active_character = getTagKeyForEntity(entityOrKey);
+    active_character = entityOrKey ? getTagKeyForEntity(entityOrKey) : null;
+    if (active_character) active_group = null;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Sets the currently active group.
+ * @param {object|number|string} [entityOrKey] - An entity with id property (character, group, tag), or directly an id or tag key. If not provided, the active group is reset to `null`.
+ */
 export function setActiveGroup(entityOrKey) {
-    active_group = getTagKeyForEntity(entityOrKey);
+    active_group = entityOrKey ? getTagKeyForEntity(entityOrKey) : null;
+    if (active_group) active_character = null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -7597,7 +7607,7 @@ export function select_selected_character(chid) {
     // Hide the chat scenario button if we're peeking the group member defs
     $('#set_chat_scenario').toggle(!selected_group);
 
-    // Don't update the navbar name if we're peeking the group member defs
+    // Don't update the navbar name if we're peekinFg the group member defs
     if (!selected_group) {
         $('#rm_button_selected_ch').children('h2').text(display_name);
     }
diff --git a/public/scripts/RossAscends-mods.js b/public/scripts/RossAscends-mods.js
index 236955596..9d64b9cb2 100644
--- a/public/scripts/RossAscends-mods.js
+++ b/public/scripts/RossAscends-mods.js
@@ -287,10 +287,21 @@ async function RA_autoloadchat() {
                 const selectedCharElement = $(`#rm_print_characters_block .character_select[chid="${active_character_id}"]`);
                 applyTagsOnCharacterSelect.call(selectedCharElement);
             }
+            if (!active_character_id) {
+                setActiveCharacter(null);
+                saveSettingsDebounced();
+                console.warn(`Currently active character with ID ${active_character} not found. Resetting to no active character.`);
+            }
         }
 
         if (active_group !== null && active_group !== undefined) {
-            await openGroupById(String(active_group));
+            if (active_character) {
+                console.warn('Active character and active group are both set. Only active character will be loaded. Resetting active group.');
+                setActiveGroup(null);
+                saveSettingsDebounced();
+            } else {
+                const result = await openGroupById(String(active_group));
+            }
         }
 
         // if the character list hadn't been loaded yet, try again.
diff --git a/public/scripts/group-chats.js b/public/scripts/group-chats.js
index 54f19e90e..0d0af4a3f 100644
--- a/public/scripts/group-chats.js
+++ b/public/scripts/group-chats.js
@@ -1664,12 +1664,12 @@ function updateFavButtonState(state) {
 export async function openGroupById(groupId) {
     if (isChatSaving) {
         toastr.info(t`Please wait until the chat is saved before switching characters.`, t`Your chat is still saving...`);
-        return;
+        return false;
     }
 
     if (!groups.find(x => x.id === groupId)) {
         console.log('Group not found', groupId);
-        return;
+        return false;
     }
 
     if (!is_send_press && !is_group_generating) {
@@ -1686,8 +1686,11 @@ export async function openGroupById(groupId) {
             updateChatMetadata({}, true);
             chat.length = 0;
             await getGroupChat(groupId);
+            return true;
         }
     }
+
+    return false;
 }
 
 function openCharacterDefinition(characterSelect) {