--- a/src/ini_load.cpp
+++ b/src/ini_load.cpp
@@ -132,13 +132,14 @@
 }
 
 /**
- * Get the group with the given name, and if it doesn't exist
- * create a new group.
+ * Get the group with the given name. If it doesn't exist
+ * and \a create_new is \c true create a new group.
  * @param name name of the group to find.
- * @param len  the maximum length of said name.
- * @return the requested group.
+ * @param len  the maximum length of said name (\c 0 means length of the string).
+ * @param create_new Allow creation of group if it does not exist.
+ * @return The requested group if it exists or was created, else \c NULL.
  */
-IniGroup *IniLoadFile::GetGroup(const char *name, size_t len)
+IniGroup *IniLoadFile::GetGroup(const char *name, size_t len, bool create_new)
 {
 	if (len == 0) len = strlen(name);
 
@@ -149,6 +150,8 @@
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (!create_new) return NULL;
+
 	/* otherwise make a new one */
 	IniGroup *group = new IniGroup(this, name, len);
 	group->comment = strdup("\n");

--- a/src/ini_type.h
+++ b/src/ini_type.h
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@
 	IniLoadFile(const char * const *list_group_names = NULL);
 	virtual ~IniLoadFile();
 
-	IniGroup *GetGroup(const char *name, size_t len = 0);
+	IniGroup *GetGroup(const char *name, size_t len = 0, bool create_new = true);
 	void RemoveGroup(const char *name);
 
 	void LoadFromDisk(const char *filename);