diff --git a/src/u_ceproject.pas b/src/u_ceproject.pas
index ce3e5f4a..c1aec3c9 100644
--- a/src/u_ceproject.pas
+++ b/src/u_ceproject.pas
@@ -271,14 +271,14 @@ begin
   f := fname;
   if not FilenameIsAbsolute(f) then
     f := ExpandFileName(f);
-  if fname.extractFileExt <> '.dprj' then
+  fbasePath := f.extractFilePath;
+  inherited customLoadFromFile(f);
+  if hasLoaded and (fname.extractFileExt <> '.dprj') then
   begin
     dlgOkInfo('project file extension automatically updated to "dprj"');
     f := ChangeFileExt(fname, '.dprj');
     RenameFile(fname, f);
   end;
-  fbasePath := f.extractFilePath;
-  inherited customLoadFromFile(f);
 end;
 
 procedure TNativeProject.customSaveToFile(const fname: string);
diff --git a/src/u_projgroup.pas b/src/u_projgroup.pas
index 898a5ee2..f00a490a 100644
--- a/src/u_projgroup.pas
+++ b/src/u_projgroup.pas
@@ -393,14 +393,14 @@ begin
   f := fname;
   if not FilenameIsAbsolute(f) then
     f := ExpandFileName(f);
-  if fname.extractFileExt <> '.dgrp' then
+  fBasePath := f.extractFilePath;
+  loadFromFile(f);
+  if hasLoaded and (fname.extractFileExt <> '.dgrp') then
   begin
     dlgOkInfo('project file extension automatically updated to "dgrp"');
     f := ChangeFileExt(fname, '.dgrp');
     RenameFile(fname, f);
   end;
-  fBasePath := f.extractFilePath;
-  loadFromFile(f);
   for i:= 0 to fItems.Count-1 do
     getItem(i).fGroup := self;
   doChanged;