diff --git a/src/common/dynamic_library/dynamic_library.h b/src/common/dynamic_library/dynamic_library.h
index 9a0c2083f..143b85f1d 100644
--- a/src/common/dynamic_library/dynamic_library.h
+++ b/src/common/dynamic_library/dynamic_library.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public:
     ~DynamicLibrary();
 
     /// Returns true if the library is loaded, otherwise false.
-    [[nodiscard]] bool IsLoaded() {
+    [[nodiscard]] bool IsLoaded() const noexcept {
         return handle != nullptr;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/pica_to_vk.h b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/pica_to_vk.h
index 96776ce70..c591df08e 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/pica_to_vk.h
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/pica_to_vk.h
@@ -77,7 +77,12 @@ inline vk::BlendOp BlendEquation(Pica::FramebufferRegs::BlendEquation equation)
     }};
 
     const auto index = static_cast<std::size_t>(equation);
-    ASSERT_MSG(index < blend_equation_table.size(), "Unknown blend equation {}", index);
+    if (index >= blend_equation_table.size()) {
+        LOG_CRITICAL(Render_Vulkan, "Unknown blend equation {}", index);
+
+        // This return value is hwtested, not just a stub
+        return vk::BlendOp::eAdd;
+    }
     return blend_equation_table[index];
 }
 
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_platform.cpp b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_platform.cpp
index 7b4c6e230..46390889a 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_platform.cpp
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_platform.cpp
@@ -277,6 +277,10 @@ vk::InstanceCreateFlags GetInstanceFlags() {
 vk::UniqueInstance CreateInstance(const Common::DynamicLibrary& library,
                                   Frontend::WindowSystemType window_type, bool enable_validation,
                                   bool dump_command_buffers) {
+    if (!library.IsLoaded()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to load Vulkan driver library");
+    }
+
     const auto vkGetInstanceProcAddr =
         library.GetSymbol<PFN_vkGetInstanceProcAddr>("vkGetInstanceProcAddr");
     if (!vkGetInstanceProcAddr) {