diff --git a/source/Paths.hx b/source/Paths.hx
index 0ab227fa15..4728228e3b 100644
--- a/source/Paths.hx
+++ b/source/Paths.hx
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import openfl.display3D.textures.RectangleTexture;
 class Paths {
 	public static var currentLevel:String = "preload";
 
-	public static var bitmaps:Map<String, BitmapData> = new Map<String, BitmapData>();
+	public static var bitmaps:Map<String, FlxGraphic> = new Map<String, FlxGraphic>();
 
 	public static function getPath(file:String, type:AssetType, library:Null<String>):String {
 		if (library != null)
@@ -107,10 +107,8 @@ class Paths {
 			return file;
 		}
 		@:privateAccess {
-			if (bitmaps.exists(file)) {
-				bitmap = bitmaps.get(file);
-			} else {
-				//trace('loading $file to the gpu', DEBUG);
+			if(!bitmaps.exists(file)){
+				trace('loading $file to the gpu', DEBUG);
 				bitmap.lock();
 				if (bitmap.__texture == null) {
 					bitmap.image.premultiplied = true;
@@ -121,12 +119,16 @@ class Paths {
 				bitmap.image.data = null;
 				bitmap.image = null;
 				bitmap.readable = true; // hashlink fix
-				bitmaps.set(file, bitmap);
 			}
-		}
+			else{
+				bitmap = null;
+				return bitmaps.get(file);
+			}
+		}	
 		var graphic:FlxGraphic = FlxGraphic.fromBitmapData(bitmap, false, file, false);
 		graphic.persist = true;
-		return file;
+		bitmaps.set(file, graphic);
+		return graphic;
 	}
 
 	inline static public function font(key:String):String
diff --git a/source/ui/Alphabet.hx b/source/ui/Alphabet.hx
index 83380f4f68..f46ea78486 100644
--- a/source/ui/Alphabet.hx
+++ b/source/ui/Alphabet.hx
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class AlphaCharacter extends FlxSprite {
 		super(x, y);
 		this.scaleMult = scaleMult;
 
-		frames = Paths.getSparrowAtlas('alphabet');
+		frames = Paths.getSparrowAtlas('alphabet', "preload", true);
 
 		antialiasing = Options.getData("antialiasing");