diff --git a/Source/SenseGlove/Private/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.cpp b/Source/SenseGlove/Private/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.cpp
index 38d36134..38c6e9c9 100644
--- a/Source/SenseGlove/Private/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.cpp
+++ b/Source/SenseGlove/Private/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.cpp
@@ -206,11 +206,7 @@ USGVirtualHandComponent::USGVirtualHandComponent(const FObjectInitializer& Objec
     bRight = true;
     bHiddenInGameIfNoGloveDetected = false;
 
-    const FString SkeletalMeshPath{Pimpl->GetDefaultMeshPath()};
-    const ConstructorHelpers::FObjectFinder<USkeletalMesh> SkeletalMeshFinder{*SkeletalMeshPath};
-    ensureAlwaysMsgf(SkeletalMeshFinder.Succeeded() && SkeletalMeshFinder.Object,
-                     TEXT("Failed to load the skeletal mesh: '%s'"), *SkeletalMeshPath);
-    Super::SetSkeletalMesh(SkeletalMeshFinder.Object, true);
+    Super::SetSkeletalMesh(nullptr, true);
 
     bBackendInitialized = false;
     Glove = nullptr;
@@ -234,6 +230,16 @@ void USGVirtualHandComponent::SetAnimClass(UClass* NewClass)
     Super::SetAnimClass(NewClass);
 }
 
+void USGVirtualHandComponent::PostInitProperties()
+{
+    Super::PostInitProperties();
+
+    if (!Pimpl->IsUsingUserMesh())
+    {
+        Pimpl->SetDefaultMesh();
+    }
+}
+
 #if WITH_EDITOR
 void USGVirtualHandComponent::PostEditChangeProperty(FPropertyChangedEvent& PropertyChangedEvent)
 {
@@ -488,7 +494,10 @@ USkeletalMesh* USGVirtualHandComponent::FImpl::LoadDefaultMesh() const
         Cast<USkeletalMesh>(StaticLoadObject(USkeletalMesh::StaticClass(), nullptr, *DefaultMeshPath))
     };
 
-    ensureAlwaysMsgf(DefaultMesh, TEXT("Failed to load the skeletal mesh: '%s'"), *DefaultMeshPath);
+    if (!IsValid(DefaultMesh))
+    {
+        SGLOG_WARNING(FString::Printf(TEXT("Failed to load the default skeletal mesh: '%s'"), *DefaultMeshPath));
+    }
 
     return DefaultMesh;
 }
diff --git a/Source/SenseGlove/Public/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.h b/Source/SenseGlove/Public/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.h
index 6ccb82ed..ca4f200a 100644
--- a/Source/SenseGlove/Public/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.h
+++ b/Source/SenseGlove/Public/SenseGlove/Components/SGVirtualHandComponent.h
@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ public:
 public:
     virtual void SetAnimClass(class UClass* NewClass) override;
 
+	virtual void PostInitProperties() override;
+
 #if WITH_EDITOR
     virtual void PostEditChangeProperty(FPropertyChangedEvent& PropertyChangedEvent) override;
 #endif  /* WITH_EDITOR */