Index: src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp
===================================================================
--- src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp	(revision 15380)
+++ src/core/qgsvectorlayer.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -2678,7 +2678,23 @@
   QString errorMsg;
   if ( !readSymbology( layer_node, errorMsg ) )
   {
-    return false;
+      // Originally just returned false, meaning layer fails to load. This is
+      // very confusing for users if symbology fails to load - bad layer handler assumes 
+      // that this must be due to missing file, so keeps prompting for filename.
+      //
+      // Would be better to provide user with information from errorMsg about why this
+      // has failed - but in the meantime this is a start.
+
+      // Set a default renderer if symbology fails to load (eg missing renderer plugin)
+      if ( mUsingRendererV2 )
+      {
+        setRendererV2( QgsFeatureRendererV2::defaultRenderer( geometryType() ) );
+      }
+      else
+      {
+        QgsSingleSymbolRenderer *renderer = new QgsSingleSymbolRenderer( geometryType() );
+        setRenderer( renderer );
+      }
   }
 
   updateFieldMap();