diff --git a/main.cpp b/main.cpp
index c288f68dc..6c5e16928 100644
--- a/main.cpp
+++ b/main.cpp
@@ -69,11 +69,13 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				files.push_back(cloudURL);
 		}
 	}
-
 	MainWindow *m = MainWindow::instance();
 	m->setLoadedWithFiles(!files.isEmpty() || !importedFiles.isEmpty());
 	m->loadFiles(files);
 	m->importFiles(importedFiles);
+	// in case something has gone wrong make sure we show the error message
+	m->showError();
+
 	if (verbose > 0)
 		print_files();
 	if (!quit)
diff --git a/qt-ui/mainwindow.cpp b/qt-ui/mainwindow.cpp
index 104dfee04..8f2f7cd23 100644
--- a/qt-ui/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/qt-ui/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -1511,6 +1511,11 @@ NotificationWidget *MainWindow::getNotificationWidget()
 	return ui.mainErrorMessage;
 }
 
+void MainWindow::showError()
+{
+	getNotificationWidget()->showNotification(get_error_string(), KMessageWidget::Error);
+}
+
 QString MainWindow::displayedFilename(QString fullFilename)
 {
 	QFile f(fullFilename);
diff --git a/qt-ui/mainwindow.h b/qt-ui/mainwindow.h
index 25c9b3eba..14aa22f0e 100644
--- a/qt-ui/mainwindow.h
+++ b/qt-ui/mainwindow.h
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ public:
 	QUndoStack *undoStack;
 	NotificationWidget *getNotificationWidget();
 	void enableDisableCloudActions();
+	void showError();
 private
 slots:
 	/* file menu action */