diff --git a/chest.lua b/chest.lua
index 2935a35..48b0a1b 100644
--- a/chest.lua
+++ b/chest.lua
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
+local has_default = minetest.get_modpath("default")
 
 --chest code from default(Copyright (C) 2012 celeron55, Perttu Ahola <celeron55@gmail.com>)
 local chest_formspec =
 	"size[8,9]" ..
-	default.gui_bg ..
-	default.gui_bg_img ..
-	default.gui_slots ..
+	(has_default and default.gui_bg or "") ..
+	(has_default and default.gui_bg_img or "") ..
+	(has_default and default.gui_slots or "") ..
 	"list[current_name;main;0,0.3;8,4;]" ..
 	"list[current_player;main;0,4.85;8,1;]" ..
 	"list[current_player;main;0,6.08;8,3;8]" ..
 	"listring[current_name;main]" ..
 	"listring[current_player;main]" ..
-	default.get_hotbar_bg(0,4.85)
+	(has_default and default.get_hotbar_bg(0,4.85) or "")
 
 -- Helper functions
 local function drop_chest_stuff()
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 4603e73..e1a672b 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ end
 dofile(MP.."/common.lua")
 
 if minetest.get_modpath("default") then
-	-- only load builder and chest if the default mod is available
+	-- only load builder if the default mod is available
 	-- the formspecs depend on it
 	dofile(MP.."/builder.lua")
-	dofile(MP.."/chest.lua")
 end
 
 dofile(MP.."/ambience.lua")
+dofile(MP.."/chest.lua")
 dofile(MP.."/plants.lua")
 dofile(MP.."/models.lua")
 dofile(MP.."/nodes.lua")