diff --git a/ChatTwo/EmoteCache.cs b/ChatTwo/EmoteCache.cs
index 366220d..a2c58bf 100644
--- a/ChatTwo/EmoteCache.cs
+++ b/ChatTwo/EmoteCache.cs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public static class EmoteCache
 
     public static string[] SortedCodeArray = [];
 
-    public static async void LoadData()
+    public static async Task LoadData()
     {
         if (State is not LoadingState.Unloaded)
             return;
diff --git a/ChatTwo/Plugin.cs b/ChatTwo/Plugin.cs
index fc45fc1..9709d0a 100755
--- a/ChatTwo/Plugin.cs
+++ b/ChatTwo/Plugin.cs
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ public sealed class Plugin : IDalamudPlugin
             Interface.UiBuilder.OpenMainUi += OpenMainUi;
 
             if (Config.ShowEmotes)
-                Task.Run(EmoteCache.LoadData);
+                _ = EmoteCache.LoadData(); // Fire-and-forget intentional, exceptions are caught inside
 
             #if !DEBUG
             // Avoid 300ms hitch when sending first message by preloading the
diff --git a/ChatTwo/Ui/Settings.cs b/ChatTwo/Ui/Settings.cs
index cd7ddc7..41b70c9 100755
--- a/ChatTwo/Ui/Settings.cs
+++ b/ChatTwo/Ui/Settings.cs
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public sealed class SettingsWindow : Dalamud.Interface.Windowing.Window
             GameFunctions.GameFunctions.SetChatInteractable(true);
 
         if (Plugin.Config.ShowEmotes)
-            Task.Run(EmoteCache.LoadData);
+            _ = EmoteCache.LoadData(); // Fire-and-forget intentional, exceptions are caught inside
 
         Initialise();
     }