diff --git a/Source/Engine/Core/Config/GameSettings.cpp b/Source/Engine/Core/Config/GameSettings.cpp
index d06f0616f..a8fa83132 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Core/Config/GameSettings.cpp
+++ b/Source/Engine/Core/Config/GameSettings.cpp
@@ -204,33 +204,23 @@ void GameSettings::Deserialize(DeserializeStream& stream, ISerializeModifier* mo
 void LayersAndTagsSettings::Deserialize(DeserializeStream& stream, ISerializeModifier* modifier)
 {
     const auto tags = stream.FindMember("Tags");
-    if (tags != stream.MemberEnd())
+    if (tags != stream.MemberEnd() && tags->value.IsArray())
     {
         auto& tagsArray = tags->value;
-        ASSERT(tagsArray.IsArray());
+        Tags.Clear();
         Tags.EnsureCapacity(tagsArray.Size());
-
-        // Note: we cannot remove tags at runtime so this should deserialize them in additive mode
-        // Tags are stored as tagIndex in actors so collection change would break the linkage
-
         for (uint32 i = 0; i < tagsArray.Size(); i++)
         {
             auto& v = tagsArray[i];
             if (v.IsString())
-            {
-                const String tag = v.GetText();
-                if (!Tags.Contains(tag))
-                    Tags.Add(tag);
-            }
+                Tags.Add(v.GetText());
         }
     }
 
     const auto layers = stream.FindMember("Layers");
-    if (layers != stream.MemberEnd())
+    if (layers != stream.MemberEnd() && layers->value.IsArray())
     {
         auto& layersArray = layers->value;
-        ASSERT(layersArray.IsArray());
-
         for (uint32 i = 0; i < layersArray.Size() && i < 32; i++)
         {
             auto& v = layersArray[i];
@@ -239,5 +229,9 @@ void LayersAndTagsSettings::Deserialize(DeserializeStream& stream, ISerializeMod
             else
                 Layers[i].Clear();
         }
+        for (uint32 i = layersArray.Size(); i < 32; i++)
+        {
+            Layers[i].Clear();
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/Source/Engine/Core/Config/LayersTagsSettings.h b/Source/Engine/Core/Config/LayersTagsSettings.h
index 92edf61c7..066b5cdd5 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Core/Config/LayersTagsSettings.h
+++ b/Source/Engine/Core/Config/LayersTagsSettings.h
@@ -30,5 +30,6 @@ public:
     static LayersAndTagsSettings* Get();
 
     // [SettingsBase]
+    void Apply() override;
     void Deserialize(DeserializeStream& stream, ISerializeModifier* modifier) final override;
 };
diff --git a/Source/Engine/Level/Level.cpp b/Source/Engine/Level/Level.cpp
index 134808962..602093363 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Level/Level.cpp
+++ b/Source/Engine/Level/Level.cpp
@@ -113,7 +113,6 @@ public:
     {
     }
 
-    bool Init() override;
     void Update() override;
     void LateUpdate() override;
     void FixedUpdate() override;
@@ -177,13 +176,22 @@ bool LevelImpl::deleteActor(Actor* actor)
     return false;
 }
 
-bool LevelService::Init()
+void LayersAndTagsSettings::Apply()
 {
-    auto& settings = *LayersAndTagsSettings::Get();
-    Level::Tags = settings.Tags;
+    // Note: we cannot remove tags/layers at runtime so this should deserialize them in additive mode
+    // Tags/Layers are stored as index in actors so collection change would break the linkage
+    for (auto& tag : Tags)
+    {
+        if (!Level::Tags.Contains(tag))
+            Level::Tags.Add(tag);
+    }
     for (int32 i = 0; i < ARRAY_COUNT(Level::Layers); i++)
-        Level::Layers[i] = settings.Layers[i];
-    return false;
+    {
+        const auto& src = Layers[i];
+        auto& dst = Level::Layers[i];
+        if (dst.IsEmpty() || !src.IsEmpty())
+            dst = src;
+    }
 }
 
 void LevelService::Update()