diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/input/sdl/input.c b/sc2/src/libs/input/sdl/input.c
index 926a395b9..2df4f84ba 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/input/sdl/input.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/input/sdl/input.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ register_menu_controls (int index)
 	{
 		VCONTROL_GESTURE g;
 		snprintf (buf, 39, "menu.%s.%d", menu_res_names[index], i);
-		if (!res_HasKey (buf))
+		if (!res_IsString (buf))
 			break;
 		VControl_ParseGesture (&g, res_GetString (buf));
 		VControl_AddGestureBinding (&g, (int *)&menu_vec[index]);
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ register_flight_controls (void)
 	{
 		/* Copy in name */
 		snprintf (buf, 39, "keys.%d.name", i+1);
-		if (res_HasKey (buf))
+		if (res_IsString (buf))
 		{
 			strncpy (input_templates[i].name, res_GetString (buf), 29);
 			input_templates[i].name[29] = '\0';
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ register_flight_controls (void)
 			{
 				VCONTROL_GESTURE *g = CONTROL_PTR(i, j, k);
 				snprintf (buf, 39, "keys.%d.%s.%d", i+1, flight_res_names[j], k+1);
-				if (!res_HasKey (buf))
+				if (!res_IsString (buf))
 				{
 					g->type = VCONTROL_NONE;
 					continue;
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/reslib.h b/sc2/src/libs/reslib.h
index bf373159d..c184c1b66 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/reslib.h
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/reslib.h
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ extern DIRENTRY_REF LoadDirEntryTable (uio_DirHandle *dirHandle,
 
 BOOLEAN res_HasKey (const char *key);
 
+BOOLEAN res_IsString (const char *key);
 const char *res_GetString (const char *key);
 void res_PutString (const char *key, const char *value);
 
diff --git a/sc2/src/libs/resource/resinit.c b/sc2/src/libs/resource/resinit.c
index a0007f859..fee9cd29e 100644
--- a/sc2/src/libs/resource/resinit.c
+++ b/sc2/src/libs/resource/resinit.c
@@ -318,13 +318,21 @@ InstallResTypeVectors (const char *resType, ResourceLoadFun *loadFun,
 }
 
 /* These replace the mapres.c calls and probably should be split out at some point. */
+BOOLEAN
+res_IsString (const char *key)
+{
+	RESOURCE_INDEX idx = _get_current_index_header ();
+	ResourceDesc *desc = lookupResourceDesc (idx, key);
+	return desc && !strcmp(desc->vtable->resType, "STRING");
+}
+
 const char *
 res_GetString (const char *key)
 {
 	RESOURCE_INDEX idx = _get_current_index_header ();
 	ResourceDesc *desc = lookupResourceDesc (idx, key);
 	if (!desc || !desc->resdata.ptr || strcmp(desc->vtable->resType, "STRING"))
-		return NULL;
+		return "";
 	/* TODO: Work out exact STRING semantics, specifically, the lifetime of
 	 *   the returned value. If caller is allowed to reference the returned
 	 *   value forever, STRING has to be ref-counted. */
@@ -358,6 +366,14 @@ res_PutString (const char *key, const char *value)
 	}
 }
 
+BOOLEAN
+res_IsInteger (const char *key)
+{
+	RESOURCE_INDEX idx = _get_current_index_header ();
+	ResourceDesc *desc = lookupResourceDesc (idx, key);
+	return desc && !strcmp(desc->vtable->resType, "INT32");
+}
+
 int
 res_GetInteger (const char *key)
 {
@@ -385,6 +401,14 @@ res_PutInteger (const char *key, int value)
 	desc->resdata.num = value;
 }
 
+BOOLEAN
+res_IsBoolean (const char *key)
+{
+	RESOURCE_INDEX idx = _get_current_index_header ();
+	ResourceDesc *desc = lookupResourceDesc (idx, key);
+	return desc && !strcmp(desc->vtable->resType, "BOOLEAN");
+}
+
 BOOLEAN
 res_GetBoolean (const char *key)
 {
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm.c b/sc2/src/uqm.c
index 7c616892c..974325e0c 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm.c
@@ -215,31 +215,31 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	// Fill in the options struct based on uqm.cfg
 	LoadResourceIndex (configDir, "uqm.cfg", "config.");
 	
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.reswidth"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.reswidth"))
 	{
 		options.width = res_GetInteger ("config.reswidth");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.resheight"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.resheight"))
 	{
 		options.height = res_GetInteger ("config.resheight");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey("config.keepaspectratio"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean("config.keepaspectratio"))
 	{
 		options.keepAspectRatio = res_GetBoolean ("config.keepaspectratio");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.alwaysgl"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.alwaysgl"))
 	{
 		if (res_GetBoolean ("config.alwaysgl"))
 		{
 			options.gfxDriver = TFB_GFXDRIVER_SDL_OPENGL;
 		}
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.usegl"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.usegl"))
 	{
 		options.gfxDriver = res_GetBoolean ("config.usegl") ?
 				TFB_GFXDRIVER_SDL_OPENGL : TFB_GFXDRIVER_SDL_PURE;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.scaler"))
+	if (res_IsString ("config.scaler"))
 	{
 		const char *arg = res_GetString ("config.scaler");
 
@@ -254,67 +254,67 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 		else if (!strcmp (arg, "hq"))
 			options.gfxFlags |= TFB_GFXFLAGS_SCALE_HQXX;	
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.scanlines") &&
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.scanlines") &&
 			res_GetBoolean ("config.scanlines"))
 	{
 		options.gfxFlags |= TFB_GFXFLAGS_SCANLINES;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.fullscreen") &&
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.fullscreen") &&
 			res_GetBoolean ("config.fullscreen"))
 	{
 		options.gfxFlags |= TFB_GFXFLAGS_FULLSCREEN;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.subtitles"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.subtitles"))
 	{
 		options.subTitles = res_GetBoolean ("config.subtitles");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.textmenu"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.textmenu"))
 	{
 		options.whichMenu = res_GetBoolean ("config.textmenu") ?
 				OPT_PC : OPT_3DO;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.textgradients"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.textgradients"))
 	{
 		options.whichFonts = res_GetBoolean ("config.textgradients") ?
 				OPT_PC : OPT_3DO;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.iconicscan"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.iconicscan"))
 	{
 		options.whichCoarseScan = res_GetBoolean ("config.iconicscan") ?
 				OPT_3DO : OPT_PC;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.smoothscroll"))		
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.smoothscroll"))		
 	{
 		options.smoothScroll = res_GetBoolean ("config.smoothscroll") ?
 				OPT_3DO : OPT_PC;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.3domusic"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.3domusic"))
 	{
 		options.use3doMusic = res_GetBoolean ("config.3domusic");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.remixmusic"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.remixmusic"))
 	{
 		options.usePrecursorsMusic = res_GetBoolean ("config.remixmusic");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.3domovies"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.3domovies"))
 	{
 		options.whichIntro = res_GetBoolean ("config.3domovies") ?
 				OPT_3DO : OPT_PC;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.showfps") && res_GetBoolean ("config.showfps"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.showfps") && res_GetBoolean ("config.showfps"))
 	{
 		options.gfxFlags |= TFB_GFXFLAGS_SHOWFPS;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.smoothmelee"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.smoothmelee"))
 	{
 		options.meleeScale = res_GetBoolean ("config.smoothmelee") ?
 				TFB_SCALE_TRILINEAR : TFB_SCALE_STEP;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.positionalsfx"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.positionalsfx"))
 	{
 		options.stereoSFX = res_GetBoolean ("config.positionalsfx");
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.audiodriver"))
+	if (res_IsString ("config.audiodriver"))
 	{
 		const char *driverstr = res_GetString ("config.audiodriver");
 		if (!strcmp (driverstr, "openal"))
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 			/* Can't figure it out, leave as initial default */
 		}
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.audioquality"))
+	if (res_IsString ("config.audioquality"))
 	{
 		const char *qstr = res_GetString ("config.audioquality");
 		if (!strcmp (qstr, "low"))
@@ -361,12 +361,12 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 			/* Can't figure it out, leave as initial default */
 		}
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.pulseshield"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.pulseshield"))
 	{
 		options.whichShield =
 				res_GetBoolean ("config.pulseshield") ? OPT_3DO : OPT_PC;
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.player1control"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.player1control"))
 	{
 		PlayerControls[0] = res_GetInteger ("config.player1control");
 		/* This is an unsigned, so no < 0 check is necessary */
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 			PlayerControls[0] = CONTROL_TEMPLATE_KB_1;
 		}
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.player2control"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.player2control"))
 	{
 		/* This is an unsigned, so no < 0 check is necessary */
 		PlayerControls[1] = res_GetInteger ("config.player2control");
@@ -388,17 +388,17 @@ main (int argc, char *argv[])
 			PlayerControls[1] = CONTROL_TEMPLATE_JOY_1;
 		}
 	}
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.musicvol"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.musicvol"))
 	{
 		parseIntVolume (res_GetInteger ("config.musicvol"), 
 				&options.musicVolumeScale);
 	}		
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.sfxvol"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.sfxvol"))
 	{
 		parseIntVolume (res_GetInteger ("config.sfxvol"), 
 				&options.sfxVolumeScale);
 	}		
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.speechvol"))
+	if (res_IsInteger ("config.speechvol"))
 	{
 		parseIntVolume (res_GetInteger ("config.speechvol"), 
 				&options.speechVolumeScale);
diff --git a/sc2/src/uqm/setupmenu.c b/sc2/src/uqm/setupmenu.c
index a2fa4071e..faaab5271 100644
--- a/sc2/src/uqm/setupmenu.c
+++ b/sc2/src/uqm/setupmenu.c
@@ -1183,7 +1183,7 @@ GetGlobalOptions (GLOBALOPTS *opts)
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (res_HasKey ("config.alwaysgl"))
+	if (res_IsBoolean ("config.alwaysgl"))
 	{
 		if (res_GetBoolean ("config.alwaysgl"))
 		{