diff --git a/docs/reference/changelog-r2025.md b/docs/reference/changelog-r2025.md
index 5f0013bb417..888d5d5492d 100644
--- a/docs/reference/changelog-r2025.md
+++ b/docs/reference/changelog-r2025.md
@@ -48,5 +48,6 @@ Released on December **th, 2023.
     - Fixed a bug where Webots would crash if a geometry was inserted into a `Shape` node used a bounding box ([#6691](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6691)).
     - Removed the old `wb_supervisor_field_import_sf_node` and `wb_supervisor_field_import_mf_node` functions from the list of editor autocomplete suggestions ([#6701](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6701)).
     - Fixed a bug preventing nodes from being inserted into unconnected proto fields ([#6735](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6735)).
+    - Fixed crash when an invalid HDR image was set as a world background ([#6744](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6744)).
     - Fixed handling of remote assets from unofficial sources ([#6585](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6585)).
     - Fixed the QtToolTip bug, where the text in the text box is not being displayed ([#6711](https://github.com/cyberbotics/webots/pull/6711)).
diff --git a/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/ocean.wbt b/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/ocean.wbt
index ff82a803aa0..085e63fd380 100644
--- a/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/ocean.wbt
+++ b/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/ocean.wbt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/backgrounds/protos/TexturedBackground.proto"
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/backgrounds/protos/TexturedBackgroundLight.proto"
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/obstacles/protos/OilBarrel.proto"
-EXTERNPROTO "../protos/Heron.proto"
+EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/robots/clearpath/heron/protos/Heron.proto"
 
 WorldInfo {
 }
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@ DEF WATER Fluid {
     }
   ]
   viscosity 0.01
-  boundingObject Transform {
-    children [
-      USE WATER_BOX
-    ]
-  }
+  boundingObject USE WATER_BOX
   locked TRUE
 }
 Heron {
diff --git a/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/swarm.wbt b/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/swarm.wbt
index 98d152608df..1b287526259 100644
--- a/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/swarm.wbt
+++ b/projects/robots/clearpath/heron/worlds/swarm.wbt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/backgrounds/protos/TexturedBackground.proto"
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/backgrounds/protos/TexturedBackgroundLight.proto"
 EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/objects/obstacles/protos/OilBarrel.proto"
-EXTERNPROTO "../protos/Heron.proto"
+EXTERNPROTO "webots://projects/robots/clearpath/heron/protos/Heron.proto"
 
 WorldInfo {
 }
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@ DEF WATER Fluid {
     }
   ]
   viscosity 0.01
-  boundingObject Transform {
-    children [
-      USE WATER_BOX
-    ]
-  }
+  boundingObject USE WATER_BOX
   locked TRUE
 }
 OilBarrel {
diff --git a/src/webots/nodes/WbBackground.cpp b/src/webots/nodes/WbBackground.cpp
index a1faadf6c34..6b445a25665 100644
--- a/src/webots/nodes/WbBackground.cpp
+++ b/src/webots/nodes/WbBackground.cpp
@@ -540,6 +540,11 @@ bool WbBackground::loadIrradianceTexture(int i) {
   float *data = stbi_loadf_from_memory(reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char *>(content.constData()), content.size(),
                                        &mIrradianceWidth, &mIrradianceHeight, &components, 0);
 
+  if (data == NULL) {
+    warn(tr("Failed to load HDR texture '%1': %2.").arg(url).arg(stbi_failure_reason()));
+    return false;
+  }
+
   const int rotate = gCoordinateSystemRotate(i);
   // FIXME: this texture rotation should be performed by OpenGL or in the shader to get a better performance
   if (rotate != 0) {