diff --git a/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp b/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
index 753302ad97..db0a5a2821 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/config/Config.cpp
@@ -598,11 +598,13 @@ extern "C"
 
     void config_set_defaults()
     {
+        config_release();
         Config::SetDefaults();
     }
 
     bool config_open(const utf8 * path)
     {
+        config_release();
         return Config::ReadFile(path);
     }