diff --git a/common/CMakeLists.txt b/common/CMakeLists.txt
index 243ccba3c4..d2c3615517 100644
--- a/common/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/common/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ endif(NOT TOP_CMAKE_WAS_SOURCED)
 
 add_library(common)
 
-# x86emitter sources
 target_sources(common PRIVATE
 	AlignedMalloc.cpp
 	Assertions.cpp
@@ -34,9 +33,9 @@ target_sources(common PRIVATE
 	Timer.cpp
 	WAVWriter.cpp
 	WindowInfo.cpp
+	YAML.cpp
 )
 
-# x86emitter headers
 target_sources(common PRIVATE
 	AlignedMalloc.h
 	Assertions.h
@@ -81,6 +80,7 @@ target_sources(common PRIVATE
 	WAVWriter.h
 	WindowInfo.h
 	WrappedMemCopy.h
+	YAML.h
 )
 
 if(_M_X86)
@@ -208,6 +208,7 @@ target_link_libraries(common PRIVATE
 target_link_libraries(common PUBLIC
 	fmt::fmt
 	fast_float
+	rapidyaml::rapidyaml
 )
 
 fixup_file_properties(common)
diff --git a/common/YAML.cpp b/common/YAML.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af6ca6bbaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/YAML.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2002-2025 PCSX2 Dev Team
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0+
+
+#include "YAML.h"
+
+#include <csetjmp>
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+struct RapidYAMLContext
+{
+	std::jmp_buf env;
+	Error* error = nullptr;
+};
+
+std::optional<ryml::Tree> ParseYAMLFromString(ryml::csubstr yaml, ryml::csubstr file_name, Error* error)
+{
+	RapidYAMLContext context;
+	context.error = error;
+
+	ryml::Callbacks callbacks;
+	callbacks.m_user_data = static_cast<void*>(&context);
+	callbacks.m_error = [](const char* msg, size_t msg_len, ryml::Location location, void* user_data) {
+		RapidYAMLContext* context = static_cast<RapidYAMLContext*>(user_data);
+
+		Error::SetString(context->error, std::string(msg, msg_len));
+		std::longjmp(context->env, 1);
+	};
+
+	ryml::EventHandlerTree event_handler(callbacks);
+	ryml::Parser parser(&event_handler);
+
+	ryml::Tree tree;
+
+	// The only options RapidYAML provides for recovering from errors are
+	// throwing an exception or using setjmp/longjmp. Since we have exceptions
+	// disabled we have to use the latter option.
+	if (setjmp(context.env))
+		return std::nullopt;
+
+	ryml::parse_in_arena(&parser, file_name, yaml, &tree);
+
+	return tree;
+}
diff --git a/common/YAML.h b/common/YAML.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..01d9d59e97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/YAML.h
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2002-2025 PCSX2 Dev Team
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-3.0+
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "Error.h"
+
+#include "ryml_std.hpp"
+#include "ryml.hpp"
+#include "ryml.hpp"
+
+#include <optional>
+
+/// Parse a YAML file with RapidYAML, and use setjmp/longjmp to recover from
+/// parsing errors (as is recommended by the documentation for cases where
+/// exceptions are disabled). The file_name parameter is only used for error
+/// messages, which are returned via the error parameter.
+std::optional<ryml::Tree> ParseYAMLFromString(ryml::csubstr yaml, ryml::csubstr file_name, Error* error);
diff --git a/common/common.vcxproj b/common/common.vcxproj
index d8efcfdaa6..eb3d734578 100644
--- a/common/common.vcxproj
+++ b/common/common.vcxproj
@@ -36,10 +36,12 @@
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories);$(SolutionDir)3rdparty\fast_float\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories);$(SolutionDir)3rdparty\fmt\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories);$(SolutionDir)3rdparty\jpgd</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
+      <AdditionalIncludeDirectories>%(AdditionalIncludeDirectories);$(SolutionDir)3rdparty\rapidyaml\include</AdditionalIncludeDirectories>
       <PrecompiledHeader>Use</PrecompiledHeader>
       <ForcedIncludeFiles>PrecompiledHeader.h</ForcedIncludeFiles>
       <PrecompiledHeaderFile>PrecompiledHeader.h</PrecompiledHeaderFile>
       <ObjectFileName>$(IntDir)%(RelativeDir)</ObjectFileName>
+      <PreprocessorDefinitions>C4_NO_DEBUG_BREAK;%(PreprocessorDefinitions)</PreprocessorDefinitions>
     </ClCompile>
   </ItemDefinitionGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@
     <ClCompile Include="Timer.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="WAVWriter.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="WindowInfo.cpp" />
+    <ClCompile Include="YAML.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="Perf.cpp" />
     <ClCompile Include="PrecompiledHeader.cpp">
       <PrecompiledHeader>Create</PrecompiledHeader>
@@ -157,6 +160,7 @@
     <ClInclude Include="Timer.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="WAVWriter.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="WindowInfo.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="YAML.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="Threading.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="emitter\implement\avx.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="emitter\implement\bmi.h" />
diff --git a/common/common.vcxproj.filters b/common/common.vcxproj.filters
index 4b04b516c0..c9715b3556 100644
--- a/common/common.vcxproj.filters
+++ b/common/common.vcxproj.filters
@@ -127,6 +127,9 @@
     <ClCompile Include="SmallString.cpp">
       <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
     </ClCompile>
+    <ClCompile Include="YAML.cpp">
+      <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
+    </ClCompile>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <ClInclude Include="AlignedMalloc.h">
@@ -335,6 +338,9 @@
     </ClInclude>
     <ClInclude Include="SingleRegisterTypes.h" />
     <ClInclude Include="FPControl.h" />
+    <ClInclude Include="YAML.h">
+      <Filter>Header Files</Filter>
+    </ClInclude>
   </ItemGroup>
   <ItemGroup>
     <Filter Include="Source Files">
@@ -349,4 +355,4 @@
       <Filter>Source Files</Filter>
     </MASM>
   </ItemGroup>
-</Project>
\ No newline at end of file
+</Project>
diff --git a/pcsx2/CMakeLists.txt b/pcsx2/CMakeLists.txt
index c66a27eeec..cacbebacb3 100644
--- a/pcsx2/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/pcsx2/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1140,7 +1140,6 @@ target_link_libraries(PCSX2_FLAGS INTERFACE
 	common
 	imgui
 	fmt::fmt
-	rapidyaml::rapidyaml
 	libchdr
 	libzip::zip
 	cpuinfo
diff --git a/pcsx2/GameDatabase.cpp b/pcsx2/GameDatabase.cpp
index bdb28e3c9d..b90c4ad5ce 100644
--- a/pcsx2/GameDatabase.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/GameDatabase.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "common/Path.h"
 #include "common/StringUtil.h"
 #include "common/Timer.h"
+#include "common/YAML.h"
 
 #include <sstream>
 #include "ryml_std.hpp"
@@ -357,8 +358,7 @@ static const char* s_round_modes[static_cast<u32>(FPRoundMode::MaxCount)] = {
 	"Nearest",
 	"NegativeInfinity",
 	"PositiveInfinity",
-	"Chop"
-};
+	"Chop"};
 
 static const char* s_gs_hw_fix_names[] = {
 	"autoFlush",
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ void GameDatabaseSchema::GameEntry::applyGSHardwareFixes(Pcsx2Config::GSOptions&
 		Host::AddKeyedOSDMessage("HWFixesWarning",
 			fmt::format(ICON_FA_WAND_MAGIC_SPARKLES " {}\n{}",
 				TRANSLATE_SV("GameDatabase", "Manual GS hardware renderer fixes are enabled, automatic fixes were not applied:"),
-					disabled_fixes),
+				disabled_fixes),
 			Host::OSD_ERROR_DURATION);
 	}
 	else
@@ -941,25 +941,28 @@ void GameDatabaseSchema::GameEntry::applyGSHardwareFixes(Pcsx2Config::GSOptions&
 
 void GameDatabase::initDatabase()
 {
-	ryml::Callbacks rymlCallbacks = ryml::get_callbacks();
-	rymlCallbacks.m_error = [](const char* msg, size_t msg_len, ryml::Location loc, void* userdata) {
-		Console.Error(fmt::format("[GameDB YAML] Parsing error at {}:{} (bufpos={}): {}",
-			loc.line, loc.col, loc.offset, std::string_view(msg, msg_len)));
-	};
-	ryml::set_callbacks(rymlCallbacks);
-	ryml::set_error_callback([](const char* msg, size_t msg_size) {
-		Console.Error(fmt::format("[GameDB YAML] Internal Parsing error: {}", std::string_view(msg, msg_size)));
-	});
+	const std::string path(Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, GAMEDB_YAML_FILE_NAME));
+	const std::string name(GAMEDB_YAML_FILE_NAME);
 
-	auto buf = FileSystem::ReadFileToString(Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, GAMEDB_YAML_FILE_NAME).c_str());
-	if (!buf.has_value())
+	const std::optional<std::string> buffer = FileSystem::ReadFileToString(path.c_str());
+	if (!buffer.has_value())
 	{
 		Console.Error("GameDB: Unable to open GameDB file, file does not exist.");
 		return;
 	}
 
-	ryml::Tree tree = ryml::parse_in_arena(ryml::to_csubstr(buf.value()));
-	ryml::NodeRef root = tree.rootref();
+	const ryml::csubstr yaml = ryml::to_csubstr(*buffer);
+
+	Error error;
+	std::optional<ryml::Tree> tree = ParseYAMLFromString(yaml, ryml::to_csubstr(name), &error);
+	if (!tree.has_value())
+	{
+		Console.ErrorFmt("GameDB: Failed to parse game database file {}:", path);
+		Console.Error(error.GetDescription());
+		return;
+	}
+
+	ryml::NodeRef root = tree->rootref();
 
 	for (const ryml::NodeRef& n : root.children())
 	{
@@ -971,7 +974,7 @@ void GameDatabase::initDatabase()
 		// However, YAML's keys are as expected case-sensitive, so we have to explicitly do our own duplicate checking
 		if (s_game_db.count(serial) == 1)
 		{
-			Console.Error(fmt::format("GameDB: Duplicate serial '{}' found in GameDB. Skipping, Serials are case-insensitive!", serial));
+			Console.ErrorFmt("GameDB: Duplicate serial '{}' found in GameDB. Skipping, Serials are case-insensitive!", serial);
 			continue;
 		}
 
@@ -980,8 +983,6 @@ void GameDatabase::initDatabase()
 			parseAndInsert(serial, n);
 		}
 	}
-
-	ryml::reset_callbacks();
 }
 
 void GameDatabase::ensureLoaded()
@@ -1069,7 +1070,7 @@ static bool parseHashDatabaseEntry(const ryml::NodeRef& node)
 	{
 		if (!n.is_map() || !n.has_child("size") || !n.has_child("md5"))
 		{
-			Console.Error(fmt::format("[HashDatabase] Incomplete hash definition in {}", entry.name));
+			Console.ErrorFmt("[HashDatabase] Incomplete hash definition in {}", entry.name);
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -1080,12 +1081,12 @@ static bool parseHashDatabaseEntry(const ryml::NodeRef& node)
 
 		if (!th.parseHash(md5))
 		{
-			Console.Error(fmt::format("[HashDatabase] Failed to parse hash in {}: '{}'", entry.name, md5));
+			Console.ErrorFmt("[HashDatabase] Failed to parse hash in {}: '{}'", entry.name, md5);
 			return false;
 		}
 
 		if (entry.tracks.empty() && s_track_hash_to_entry_map.find(th) != s_track_hash_to_entry_map.end())
-			Console.Warning(fmt::format("[HashDatabase] Duplicate first track hash in {}", entry.name));
+			Console.WarningFmt("[HashDatabase] Duplicate first track hash in {}", entry.name);
 
 		entry.tracks.push_back(th);
 		s_track_hash_to_entry_map.emplace(th, index);
@@ -1100,27 +1101,30 @@ bool GameDatabase::loadHashDatabase()
 	if (!s_hash_database.empty())
 		return true;
 
-	ryml::Callbacks rymlCallbacks = ryml::get_callbacks();
-	rymlCallbacks.m_error = [](const char* msg, size_t msg_len, ryml::Location loc, void*) {
-		Console.Error(fmt::format(
-			"[HashDatabase YAML] Parsing error at {}:{} (bufpos={}): {}", loc.line, loc.col, loc.offset, msg));
-	};
-	ryml::set_callbacks(rymlCallbacks);
-	ryml::set_error_callback([](const char* msg, size_t msg_size) {
-		Console.Error(fmt::format("[HashDatabase YAML] Internal Parsing error: {}", std::string_view(msg, msg_size)));
-	});
-
 	Common::Timer load_timer;
 
-	auto buf = FileSystem::ReadFileToString(Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, HASHDB_YAML_FILE_NAME).c_str());
-	if (!buf.has_value())
+	const std::string path(Path::Combine(EmuFolders::Resources, HASHDB_YAML_FILE_NAME));
+	const std::string name(HASHDB_YAML_FILE_NAME);
+
+	std::optional<std::string> buffer = FileSystem::ReadFileToString(path.c_str());
+	if (!buffer.has_value())
 	{
-		Console.Error("GameDB: Unable to open hash database file, file does not exist.");
+		Console.Error("[HashDatabase] Unable to open hash database file, file does not exist.");
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	ryml::Tree tree = ryml::parse_in_arena(ryml::to_csubstr(buf.value()));
-	ryml::NodeRef root = tree.rootref();
+	ryml::csubstr yaml = ryml::to_csubstr(*buffer);
+
+	Error error;
+	std::optional<ryml::Tree> tree = ParseYAMLFromString(yaml, ryml::to_csubstr(name), &error);
+	if (!tree.has_value())
+	{
+		Console.ErrorFmt("[HashDatabase] Failed to parse hash database file {}:", path);
+		Console.Error(error.GetDescription());
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	ryml::NodeRef root = tree->rootref();
 
 	bool okay = true;
 	for (const ryml::NodeRef& n : root.children())
@@ -1132,7 +1136,6 @@ bool GameDatabase::loadHashDatabase()
 		}
 	}
 
-	ryml::reset_callbacks();
 	if (!okay)
 	{
 		s_track_hash_to_entry_map.clear();