diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 7dcb863049..fa730c5d40 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -2653,6 +2653,8 @@ void Application::loadSettings() {
 
     Menu::getInstance()->loadSettings();
     getMyAvatar()->loadData();
+
+    _settingsLoaded = true;
 }
 
 void Application::saveSettings() {
@@ -3276,6 +3278,10 @@ int Application::sendNackPackets() {
 
 void Application::queryOctree(NodeType_t serverType, PacketType packetType, NodeToJurisdictionMap& jurisdictions) {
 
+    if (!_settingsLoaded) {
+        return; // bail early if settings are not loaded
+    }
+
     //qCDebug(interfaceapp) << ">>> inside... queryOctree()... _viewFrustum.getFieldOfView()=" << _viewFrustum.getFieldOfView();
     bool wantExtraDebugging = getLogger()->extraDebugging();
 
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.h b/interface/src/Application.h
index 3840e10c93..30cda33051 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.h
+++ b/interface/src/Application.h
@@ -510,6 +510,8 @@ private:
     bool _reticleClickPressed { false };
 
     int _avatarAttachmentRequest = 0;
+
+    bool _settingsLoaded { false };
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_Application_h