diff --git a/src/Acoustics.Shared/ConfigFile/ConfigFile.Deserialize.cs b/src/Acoustics.Shared/ConfigFile/ConfigFile.Deserialize.cs
index a1bb42094..cfad7a644 100644
--- a/src/Acoustics.Shared/ConfigFile/ConfigFile.Deserialize.cs
+++ b/src/Acoustics.Shared/ConfigFile/ConfigFile.Deserialize.cs
@@ -120,6 +120,11 @@ private static T LoadAndCache<T>(string path, Func<T> factory)
                         (generic, loadedConfig) = Yaml.LoadAndDeserialize<T>(path);
                     }
 
+                    if (loadedConfig is null)
+                    {
+                        throw new ConfigFileException($"Tried to load the {path} config file but it looks like it was empty. Add some content?", path);
+                    }
+
                     // if implements Config in any subtype (more specific than IConfig)
                     if (loadedConfig is Config config)
                     {
diff --git a/src/AnalysisPrograms/Recognizers/Base/RecognizerBase.cs b/src/AnalysisPrograms/Recognizers/Base/RecognizerBase.cs
index dd54d6412..c2bebe6fc 100644
--- a/src/AnalysisPrograms/Recognizers/Base/RecognizerBase.cs
+++ b/src/AnalysisPrograms/Recognizers/Base/RecognizerBase.cs
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ public RecognizerConfig()
                 };
             }
 
-            public string HighResolutionIndicesConfig { get; set; }
+            public string HighResolutionIndicesConfig { get; set; } = "Towsey.Acoustic.HiResIndicesForRecognisers.yml";
 
             public AcousticIndices.AcousticIndicesConfig HighResolutionIndices { get; private set; }
         }