diff --git a/include/dusk/mod_loader.hpp b/include/dusk/mod_loader.hpp
index d48875b4ff..3b467b6db0 100644
--- a/include/dusk/mod_loader.hpp
+++ b/include/dusk/mod_loader.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ struct ModMetadata {
     std::string version;
     std::string author;
     std::string description;
+    bool hasCode;
 };
 
 struct NativeMod {
diff --git a/src/dusk/modding/mod_loader.cpp b/src/dusk/modding/mod_loader.cpp
index 598b44e79d..b5ba972eaa 100644
--- a/src/dusk/modding/mod_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/dusk/modding/mod_loader.cpp
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ static ModMetadata loadMetadata(const std::filesystem::path& modPath, ModBundle&
     std::string metaVersion = j.value("version", "");
     std::string metaAuthor = j.value("author", "");
     std::string metaDescription = j.value("description", "");
+    const bool hasCode = j.value("has_code", false);
 
     if (metaId.empty()) {
         throw InvalidModDataException("Missing ID value in mod metadata!");
@@ -400,6 +401,7 @@ static ModMetadata loadMetadata(const std::filesystem::path& modPath, ModBundle&
         std::move(metaVersion),
         std::move(metaAuthor),
         std::move(metaDescription),
+        hasCode,
     };
 }
 
@@ -515,7 +517,7 @@ void ModLoader::tryLoadDusk(const std::filesystem::path& modPath, bool fromDir)
     mod.metadata = std::move(metadata);
     mod.bundle = std::move(bundle);
 
-    if (!tryLoadNativeMod(mod)) {
+    if (mod.metadata.hasCode && !tryLoadNativeMod(mod)) {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -571,10 +573,16 @@ void ModLoader::init() {
 
     DuskLog.info("ModLoader: initializing {} mod(s)...", m_mods.size());
     for (auto& mod : m_mods) {
-        buildAPI(mod);
+        if (mod.native) {
+            buildAPI(mod);
+        }
     }
 
     for (auto& mod : m_mods) {
+        if (!mod.native) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
         ModGuard guard(&mod);
         try {
             mod.native->fn_init(&mod.native->api);
@@ -598,7 +606,7 @@ void ModLoader::init() {
 
 void ModLoader::tick() {
     for (auto& mod : m_mods) {
-        if (!mod.active) {
+        if (!mod.active || !mod.native) {
             continue;
         }
         ModGuard guard(&mod);
@@ -618,7 +626,7 @@ void ModLoader::tick() {
 void ModLoader::shutdown() {
     for (auto& mod : m_mods) {
         hookClearMod(&mod);
-        if (mod.native->fn_cleanup) {
+        if (mod.native && mod.native->fn_cleanup) {
             ModGuard guard(&mod);
             try {
                 mod.native->fn_cleanup(&mod.native->api);
diff --git a/tools/mod_template/mod.json b/tools/mod_template/mod.json
index 44364017ee..f920df6dd2 100644
--- a/tools/mod_template/mod.json
+++ b/tools/mod_template/mod.json
@@ -3,5 +3,6 @@
     "name": "Template Mod",
     "version": "1.0.0",
     "author": "Maddie",
-    "description": "An example Dusk mod"
+    "description": "An example Dusk mod",
+    "has_code": true
 }
diff --git a/tools/mod_test/mod.json b/tools/mod_test/mod.json
index 0e36ab47a2..f36d8abe2d 100644
--- a/tools/mod_test/mod.json
+++ b/tools/mod_test/mod.json
@@ -3,5 +3,6 @@
     "name":        "API Test Mod",
     "version":     "1.0.0",
     "author":      "dusk",
-    "description": "Exercises every feature of the Dusk mod API."
+    "description": "Exercises every feature of the Dusk mod API.",
+    "has_code":    true
 }