diff --git a/BotModule.cs b/BotModule.cs
index 7983dca..808eb25 100644
--- a/BotModule.cs
+++ b/BotModule.cs
@@ -24,37 +24,35 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot
         }
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Processes module-specific configuration.
-        /// This method is not called if the user did not provide configuration for the module.
+        /// This method is called on each module when configuration is (re)loaded.
+        /// The module is expected to use this opportunity to set up an object that will hold state data
+        /// for a particular guild, using the incoming configuration object as needed in order to do so.
         /// </summary>
         /// <remarks>
-        /// Module code <i>should not</i> hold on to this data, but instead use <see cref="GetConfig(ulong)"/> to retrieve
-        /// them. This is in the event that configuration is reverted to an earlier state and allows for the
-        /// all modules to revert to previously used configuration values with no effort on the part of the
-        /// module code itself.
+        /// Module code <i>should not</i> hold on state or configuration data on its own, but instead use
+        /// <see cref="GetState{T}(ulong)"/> to retrieve its state object. This is to provide the user
+        /// with the ability to maintain the current bot state in the event that a configuration reload fails.
         /// </remarks>
-        /// <returns>
-        /// Processed configuration data prepared for later use.
-        /// </returns>
-        /// <exception cref="ConfigItem.RuleImportException">
-        /// This method should throw <see cref="ConfigItem.RuleImportException"/>
-        /// in the event of configuration errors. The exception message will be properly displayed.
-        /// </exception>
-        public abstract Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection);
+        /// <param name="configSection">
+        /// Configuration data for this module, for this guild. Is null if none was defined.
+        /// </param>
+        /// <returns>An object that may later be retrieved by <see cref="GetState{T}(ulong)"/>.</returns>
+        public virtual Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection) => Task.FromResult<object>(null);
 
         /// <summary>
-        /// Gets this module's relevant configuration data associated with the given Discord guild.
+        /// Retrieves this module's relevant state data associated with the given Discord guild.
         /// </summary>
         /// <returns>
-        /// The stored configuration data, or null if none exists.
+        /// The stored state data, or null/default if none exists.
         /// </returns>
-        protected object GetConfig(ulong guildId)
+        protected T GetState<T>(ulong guildId)
         {
+            // TODO investigate if locking may be necessary
             var sc = RegexBot.Config.Servers.FirstOrDefault(g => g.Id == guildId);
-            if (sc == null) return null;
+            if (sc == null) return default(T);
 
-            if (sc.ModuleConfigs.TryGetValue(this, out var item)) return item;
-            else return null;
+            if (sc.ModuleConfigs.TryGetValue(this, out var item)) return (T)item;
+            else return default(T);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/Configuration.cs b/Configuration.cs
index f371e6c..8fee47f 100644
--- a/Configuration.cs
+++ b/Configuration.cs
@@ -158,31 +158,30 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot
                 EntityList mods = new EntityList(sconf["moderators"]);
                 if (sconf["moderators"] != null) await SLog("Moderator " + mods.ToString());
                 
-                // Load module configurations
+                // Set up module state / load configurations
                 Dictionary<BotModule, object> customConfs = new Dictionary<BotModule, object>();
                 foreach (var item in _bot.Modules)
                 {
                     var confSection = item.Name;
 
                     var section = sconf[confSection];
-                    if (section == null)
-                    {
-                        // Section not in config. Do not call loader method.
-                        await SLog("Additional configuration not defined for " + item.Name);
-                        continue;
-                    }
-
-                    await SLog("Loading additional configuration for " + item.Name);
+                    await SLog("Setting up " + item.Name);
                     object result;
                     try
                     {
-                        result = await item.ProcessConfiguration(section);
+                        result = await item.CreateInstanceState(section);
                     }
                     catch (RuleImportException ex)
                     {
                         await SLog($"{item.Name} failed to load configuration: " + ex.Message);
                         return false;
                     }
+                    catch (Exception ex)
+                    {
+                        await SLog("Encountered unhandled exception:");
+                        await SLog(ex.ToString());
+                        return false;
+                    }
 
                     customConfs.Add(item, result);
                 }
diff --git a/EntityCache/Module.cs b/EntityCache/Module.cs
index c4945ab..845dd87 100644
--- a/EntityCache/Module.cs
+++ b/EntityCache/Module.cs
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.EntityCache
                 Log("No database storage available.").Wait();
             }
         }
-
-        public override Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection) => Task.FromResult<object>(null);
         
         // Guild and guild member information has become available.
         // This is a very expensive operation, especially when joining larger guilds.
diff --git a/Module/AutoMod/AutoMod.cs b/Module/AutoMod/AutoMod.cs
index 88c4b14..4e48525 100644
--- a/Module/AutoMod/AutoMod.cs
+++ b/Module/AutoMod/AutoMod.cs
@@ -22,8 +22,9 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.AutoMod
             client.MessageUpdated += CMessageUpdated;
         }
         
-        public override async Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection)
+        public override async Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection)
         {
+            if (configSection == null) return null;
             List<ConfigItem> rules = new List<ConfigItem>();
 
             foreach (var def in configSection.Children<JProperty>())
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.AutoMod
             if (ch == null) return;
 
             // Get rules
-            var rules = GetConfig(ch.Guild.Id) as IEnumerable<ConfigItem>;
+            var rules = GetState<IEnumerable<ConfigItem>>(ch.Guild.Id);
             if (rules == null) return;
 
             foreach (var rule in rules)
diff --git a/Module/AutoRespond/AutoRespond.cs b/Module/AutoRespond/AutoRespond.cs
index e5cfb5a..e9baceb 100644
--- a/Module/AutoRespond/AutoRespond.cs
+++ b/Module/AutoRespond/AutoRespond.cs
@@ -33,15 +33,16 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.AutoRespond
             var ch = arg.Channel as SocketGuildChannel;
             if (ch == null) return;
             
-            var defs = GetConfig(ch.Guild.Id) as IEnumerable<ConfigItem>;
+            var defs = GetState<IEnumerable<ConfigItem>>(ch.Guild.Id);
             if (defs == null) return;
 
             foreach (var def in defs)
                 await Task.Run(async () => await ProcessMessage(arg, def));
         }
         
-        public override async Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection)
+        public override async Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection)
         {
+            if (configSection == null) return null;
             var responses = new List<ConfigItem>();
             foreach (var def in configSection.Children<JProperty>())
             {
diff --git a/Module/DMLogger/DMLogger.cs b/Module/DMLogger/DMLogger.cs
index 66bde53..2599b9d 100644
--- a/Module/DMLogger/DMLogger.cs
+++ b/Module/DMLogger/DMLogger.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 using Discord;
 using Discord.WebSocket;
-using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 using System.Text;
 using System.Threading.Tasks;
 
@@ -34,8 +33,6 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.DMLogger
             await ProcessMessage(arg2, true);
         }
 
-        public override Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection) => Task.FromResult<object>(null);
-
         private async Task ProcessMessage(SocketMessage arg, bool edited)
         {
             var result = new StringBuilder();
diff --git a/Module/EntryAutoRole/EntryAutoRole.cs b/Module/EntryAutoRole/EntryAutoRole.cs
index 19b5bec..22e09e6 100644
--- a/Module/EntryAutoRole/EntryAutoRole.cs
+++ b/Module/EntryAutoRole/EntryAutoRole.cs
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.EntryAutoRole
             Task.Factory.StartNew(Worker, _workerCancel.Token, TaskCreationOptions.LongRunning, TaskScheduler.Default);
         }
         
-        public override Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection)
+        public override Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection)
         {
+            if (configSection == null) return Task.FromResult<object>(null);
             if (configSection.Type != JTokenType.Object)
             {
                 throw new RuleImportException("Configuration for this section is invalid.");
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.EntryAutoRole
 
         private Task Client_GuildAvailable(SocketGuild arg)
         {
-            var conf = (ModuleConfig)GetConfig(arg.Id);
+            var conf = GetState<ModuleConfig>(arg.Id);
             if (conf == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
             SocketRole trole = GetRole(arg);
             if (trole == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
@@ -71,19 +72,19 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.EntryAutoRole
 
         private Task Client_UserLeft(SocketGuildUser arg)
         {
-            if (GetConfig(arg.Guild.Id) == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
+            if (GetState<object>(arg.Guild.Id) == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
             lock (_roleWaitLock) _roleWaitlist.RemoveAll(m => m.GuildId == arg.Guild.Id && m.UserId == arg.Id);
             return Task.CompletedTask;
         }
 
         private Task Client_UserJoined(SocketGuildUser arg)
         {
-            if (GetConfig(arg.Guild.Id) == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
+            if (GetState<object>(arg.Guild.Id) == null) return Task.CompletedTask;
             lock (_roleWaitLock) _roleWaitlist.Add(new AutoRoleEntry()
             {
                 GuildId = arg.Guild.Id,
                 UserId = arg.Id,
-                ExpireTime = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddSeconds(((ModuleConfig)GetConfig(arg.Guild.Id)).TimeDelay)
+                ExpireTime = DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.AddSeconds((GetState<ModuleConfig>(arg.Guild.Id)).TimeDelay)
             });
             return Task.CompletedTask;
         }
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.EntryAutoRole
         // can return null
         private SocketRole GetRole(SocketGuild g)
         {
-            var conf = (ModuleConfig)GetConfig(g.Id);
+            var conf = GetState<ModuleConfig>(g.Id);
             if (conf == null) return null;
             var roleInfo = conf.Role;
             
diff --git a/Module/ModCommands/ModCommands.cs b/Module/ModCommands/ModCommands.cs
index 82e4773..d63a1b9 100644
--- a/Module/ModCommands/ModCommands.cs
+++ b/Module/ModCommands/ModCommands.cs
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModCommands
             if (arg.Channel is IGuildChannel) await CommandCheckInvoke(arg);
         }
         
-        public override async Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection)
+        public override async Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection)
         {
+            if (configSection == null) return null;
+
             // Constructor throws exception on config errors
             var conf = new ConfigItem(this, configSection);
 
@@ -44,8 +46,6 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModCommands
             return conf;
         }
 
-        private new ConfigItem GetConfig(ulong guildId) => (ConfigItem)base.GetConfig(guildId);
-
         public new Task Log(string text) => base.Log(text);
 
         private async Task CommandCheckInvoke(SocketMessage arg)
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModCommands
             int spc = arg.Content.IndexOf(' ');
             if (spc != -1) cmdchk = arg.Content.Substring(0, spc);
             else cmdchk = arg.Content;
-            if (GetConfig(g.Id).Commands.TryGetValue(cmdchk, out var c))
+            if (GetState<ConfigItem>(g.Id).Commands.TryGetValue(cmdchk, out var c))
             {
                 try
                 {
diff --git a/Module/ModLogs/MessageCache.cs b/Module/ModLogs/MessageCache.cs
index 6ab2dfb..8b75462 100644
--- a/Module/ModLogs/MessageCache.cs
+++ b/Module/ModLogs/MessageCache.cs
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModLogs
     {
         private readonly DiscordSocketClient _dClient;
         private readonly AsyncLogger _outLog;
-        private readonly Func<ulong, object> _outGetConfig;
+        private readonly Func<ulong, GuildConfig> _outGetConfig;
 
         // TODO: How to clear the cache after a time? Can't hold on to this forever.
 
-        public MessageCache(DiscordSocketClient client, AsyncLogger logger, Func<ulong, object> getConfFunc)
+        public MessageCache(DiscordSocketClient client, AsyncLogger logger, Func<ulong, GuildConfig> getConfFunc)
         {
             _dClient = client;
             _outLog = logger;
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModLogs
             else return;
 
             // Check if this feature is enabled before doing anything else.
-            var cfg = _outGetConfig(guildId) as GuildConfig;
+            var cfg = _outGetConfig(guildId);
             if (cfg == null) return;
             if (isDelete && (cfg.RptTypes & EventType.MsgDelete) == 0) return;
             if (!isDelete && (cfg.RptTypes & EventType.MsgEdit) == 0) return;
diff --git a/Module/ModLogs/ModLogs.cs b/Module/ModLogs/ModLogs.cs
index 7f4c130..7ae1136 100644
--- a/Module/ModLogs/ModLogs.cs
+++ b/Module/ModLogs/ModLogs.cs
@@ -19,14 +19,15 @@ namespace Noikoio.RegexBot.Module.ModLogs
             if (!RegexBot.Config.DatabaseAvailable) return;
             
             // MessageCache (reporting of MessageEdit, MessageDelete) handled by helper class
-            _msgCacheInstance = new MessageCache(client, Log, GetConfig);
+            _msgCacheInstance = new MessageCache(client, Log, delegate (ulong id) { return GetState<GuildConfig>(id); });
 
             // TODO add handlers for detecting joins, leaves, bans, kicks, user edits (nick/username/discr)
             // TODO add handler for processing the log query command
         }
         
-        public override async Task<object> ProcessConfiguration(JToken configSection)
+        public override async Task<object> CreateInstanceState(JToken configSection)
         {
+            if (configSection == null) return null;
             if (configSection.Type != JTokenType.Object)
                 throw new RuleImportException("Configuration for this section is invalid.");