diff --git a/Common/Vulkan/VulkanImage.cpp b/Common/Vulkan/VulkanImage.cpp
index 9551a1704a..597907bb70 100644
--- a/Common/Vulkan/VulkanImage.cpp
+++ b/Common/Vulkan/VulkanImage.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ bool VulkanTexture::CreateDirect(VkCommandBuffer cmd, int w, int h, int numMips,
 
 	VkResult res = vkCreateImage(vulkan_->GetDevice(), &image_create_info, NULL, &image_);
 	if (res != VK_SUCCESS) {
-		assert(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
+		_assert_(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -79,12 +79,14 @@ bool VulkanTexture::CreateDirect(VkCommandBuffer cmd, int w, int h, int numMips,
 
 		// Find memory type - don't specify any mapping requirements
 		bool pass = vulkan_->MemoryTypeFromProperties(mem_reqs.memoryTypeBits, VK_MEMORY_PROPERTY_DEVICE_LOCAL_BIT, &mem_alloc.memoryTypeIndex);
-		assert(pass);
+		_assert_(pass);
 
 		res = vkAllocateMemory(vulkan_->GetDevice(), &mem_alloc, NULL, &mem_);
 		if (res != VK_SUCCESS) {
 			_assert_msg_(G3D, res != VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS, "Too many Vulkan memory objects!");
-			assert(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
+			_assert_(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
+			vkDestroyImage(vulkan_->GetDevice(), image_, nullptr);
+			image_ = nullptr;
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -93,7 +95,8 @@ bool VulkanTexture::CreateDirect(VkCommandBuffer cmd, int w, int h, int numMips,
 
 	res = vkBindImageMemory(vulkan_->GetDevice(), image_, mem_, offset_);
 	if (res != VK_SUCCESS) {
-		assert(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
+		// This leaks the image and memory. Should not really happen though...
+		_assert_(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -108,8 +111,8 @@ bool VulkanTexture::CreateDirect(VkCommandBuffer cmd, int w, int h, int numMips,
 			break;
 		default:
 			// If you planned to use UploadMip, you want VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL. After the
-			// upload, you can transition.
-			assert(false);
+			// upload, you can transition using EndCreate.
+			_assert_(false);
 			break;
 		}
 	}
@@ -135,7 +138,8 @@ bool VulkanTexture::CreateDirect(VkCommandBuffer cmd, int w, int h, int numMips,
 
 	res = vkCreateImageView(vulkan_->GetDevice(), &view_info, NULL, &view_);
 	if (res != VK_SUCCESS) {
-		assert(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
+		// This leaks the image.
+		_assert_(res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_HOST_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_OUT_OF_DEVICE_MEMORY || res == VK_ERROR_TOO_MANY_OBJECTS);
 		return false;
 	}
 	return true;
diff --git a/UI/TextureUtil.cpp b/UI/TextureUtil.cpp
index 6ee742751b..4855dd6e41 100644
--- a/UI/TextureUtil.cpp
+++ b/UI/TextureUtil.cpp
@@ -131,8 +131,7 @@ bool ManagedTexture::LoadFromFileData(const uint8_t *data, size_t dataSize, Imag
 		if (image[i])
 			free(image[i]);
 	}
-
-	return true;
+	return texture_ != nullptr;
 }
 
 bool ManagedTexture::LoadFromFile(const std::string &filename, ImageFileType type, bool generateMips) {
@@ -172,4 +171,4 @@ std::unique_ptr<ManagedTexture> CreateTextureFromFileData(Draw::DrawContext *dra
 	ManagedTexture *mtex = new ManagedTexture(draw);
 	mtex->LoadFromFileData(data, size, type, generateMips);
 	return std::move(std::unique_ptr<ManagedTexture>(mtex));
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/ext/native/thin3d/thin3d_vulkan.cpp b/ext/native/thin3d/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
index 58cee3ee00..1f5660adfb 100644
--- a/ext/native/thin3d/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
+++ b/ext/native/thin3d/thin3d_vulkan.cpp
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public:
 	VKTexture(VulkanContext *vulkan, VkCommandBuffer cmd, VulkanPushBuffer *pushBuffer, const TextureDesc &desc, VulkanDeviceAllocator *alloc)
 		: vulkan_(vulkan), mipLevels_(desc.mipLevels), format_(desc.format) {
 		bool result = Create(cmd, pushBuffer, desc, alloc);
-		assert(result);
+		_assert_(result);
 	}
 
 	~VKTexture() {
@@ -650,8 +650,8 @@ enum class TextureState {
 
 bool VKTexture::Create(VkCommandBuffer cmd, VulkanPushBuffer *push, const TextureDesc &desc, VulkanDeviceAllocator *alloc) {
 	// Zero-sized textures not allowed.
-	assert(desc.width * desc.height * desc.depth > 0);
-	assert(push);
+	_assert_(desc.width * desc.height * desc.depth > 0);  // remember to set depth to 1!
+	_assert_(push);
 	format_ = desc.format;
 	mipLevels_ = desc.mipLevels;
 	width_ = desc.width;
@@ -667,7 +667,10 @@ bool VKTexture::Create(VkCommandBuffer cmd, VulkanPushBuffer *push, const Textur
 		// Gonna have to generate some, which requires TRANSFER_SRC
 		usageBits |= VK_IMAGE_USAGE_TRANSFER_SRC_BIT;
 	}
-	vkTex_->CreateDirect(cmd, width_, height_, mipLevels_, vulkanFormat, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, usageBits);
+	if (!vkTex_->CreateDirect(cmd, width_, height_, mipLevels_, vulkanFormat, VK_IMAGE_LAYOUT_TRANSFER_DST_OPTIMAL, usageBits)) {
+		ELOG("Failed to create VulkanTexture: %dx%dx%d fmt %d, %d levels", width_, height_, depth_, (int)vulkanFormat, mipLevels_);
+		return false;
+	}
 	if (desc.initData.size()) {
 		int w = width_;
 		int h = height_;
@@ -1017,6 +1020,12 @@ InputLayout *VKContext::CreateInputLayout(const InputLayoutDesc &desc) {
 }
 
 Texture *VKContext::CreateTexture(const TextureDesc &desc) {
+	if (!push_) {
+		// Too early! Fail.
+		ELOG("Can't create textures before the first frame has started.");
+		return nullptr;
+	}
+	_assert_(renderManager_.GetInitCmd());
 	return new VKTexture(vulkan_, renderManager_.GetInitCmd(), push_, desc, allocator_);
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/native/ui/ui_context.cpp b/ext/native/ui/ui_context.cpp
index 6ad2d78c8c..a148a0b60d 100644
--- a/ext/native/ui/ui_context.cpp
+++ b/ext/native/ui/ui_context.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ void UIContext::Init(Draw::DrawContext *thin3d, Draw::Pipeline *uipipe, Draw::Pi
 
 void UIContext::BeginFrame() {
 	if (!uitexture_) {
-		uitexture_ = CreateTextureFromFile(draw_, "ui_atlas.zim", ImageFileType::ZIM);
+		uitexture_ = CreateTextureFromFile(draw_, "ui_atlas.zim", ImageFileType::ZIM, false);
 		if (!uitexture_) {
 			PanicAlert("Failed to load ui_atlas.zim.\n\nPlace it in the directory \"assets\" under your PPSSPP directory.");
 			FLOG("Failed to load ui_atlas.zim");