diff --git a/system/helpers/smiley_helper.php b/system/helpers/smiley_helper.php
index c2f50ec..d9a6934 100644
--- a/system/helpers/smiley_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/smiley_helper.php
@@ -213,16 +213,30 @@
 	 */
 	function _get_smiley_array()
 	{
-		if (file_exists(APPPATH.'config/'.ENVIRONMENT.'/smileys.php'))
+		static $_smileys;
+
+		if ( ! is_array($smileys))
 		{
-			include(APPPATH.'config/'.ENVIRONMENT.'/smileys.php');
-		}
-		elseif (file_exists(APPPATH.'config/smileys.php'))
-		{
-			include(APPPATH.'config/smileys.php');
+			if (file_exists(APPPATH.'config/smileys.php'))
+			{
+				include(APPPATH.'config/smileys.php');
+			}
+
+			if (file_exists(APPPATH.'config/'.ENVIRONMENT.'/smileys.php'))
+			{
+				include(APPPATH.'config/'.ENVIRONMENT.'/smileys.php');
+			}
+
+			if (empty($smileys) OR ! is_array($smileys))
+			{
+				$_smileys = array();
+				return FALSE;
+			}
+
+			$_smileys = $smileys;
 		}
 
-		return (isset($smileys) && is_array($smileys)) ? $smileys : FALSE;
+		return $_smileys;
 	}
 }