diff --git a/src/checkerr.rs b/src/checkerr.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f39bf7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/checkerr.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! checkerr {
+    ($ex:expr) => {
+        if $ex.is_err() {
+            return Err(());
+        }
+    };
+}
diff --git a/src/file_builders/active_runtime_json.rs b/src/file_builders/active_runtime_json.rs
index 977c237..d5d7bcd 100644
--- a/src/file_builders/active_runtime_json.rs
+++ b/src/file_builders/active_runtime_json.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
+    checkerr,
     file_utils::{copy_file, deserialize_file, get_writer, set_file_readonly},
     paths::{get_backup_dir, get_xdg_config_dir, get_xdg_data_dir, SYSTEM_PREFIX},
     profile::{Profile, XRServiceType},
@@ -69,13 +70,18 @@ pub fn get_current_active_runtime() -> Option<ActiveRuntime> {
     get_active_runtime_from_path(&get_active_runtime_json_path())
 }
 
-fn dump_active_runtime_to_path(active_runtime: &ActiveRuntime, path_s: &String) {
+fn dump_active_runtime_to_path(
+    active_runtime: &ActiveRuntime,
+    path_s: &String,
+) -> Result<(), serde_json::Error> {
     let writer = get_writer(path_s);
-    serde_json::to_writer_pretty(writer, active_runtime).expect("Unable to save active runtime");
+    serde_json::to_writer_pretty(writer, active_runtime)
 }
 
-pub fn dump_current_active_runtime(active_runtime: &ActiveRuntime) {
-    dump_active_runtime_to_path(active_runtime, &get_active_runtime_json_path());
+pub fn dump_current_active_runtime(
+    active_runtime: &ActiveRuntime,
+) -> Result<(), serde_json::Error> {
+    dump_active_runtime_to_path(active_runtime, &get_active_runtime_json_path())
 }
 
 fn build_steam_active_runtime() -> ActiveRuntime {
@@ -96,9 +102,10 @@ fn build_steam_active_runtime() -> ActiveRuntime {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn set_current_active_runtime_to_steam() {
-    set_file_readonly(&get_active_runtime_json_path(), false);
-    dump_current_active_runtime(&build_steam_active_runtime())
+pub fn set_current_active_runtime_to_steam() -> Result<(), ()> {
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&get_active_runtime_json_path(), false));
+    checkerr!(dump_current_active_runtime(&build_steam_active_runtime()));
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 pub fn build_profile_active_runtime(profile: &Profile) -> ActiveRuntime {
@@ -119,9 +126,9 @@ pub fn build_profile_active_runtime(profile: &Profile) -> ActiveRuntime {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn set_current_active_runtime_to_profile(profile: &Profile) {
+pub fn set_current_active_runtime_to_profile(profile: &Profile) -> Result<(), ()> {
     let dest = get_active_runtime_json_path();
-    set_file_readonly(&dest, false);
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&dest, false));
     backup_steam_active_runtime();
     let pfx = profile.clone().prefix;
     let mut ar = build_profile_active_runtime(profile);
@@ -139,8 +146,9 @@ pub fn set_current_active_runtime_to_profile(profile: &Profile) {
             rels = rel_chain.join("/")
         );
     }
-    dump_current_active_runtime(&ar);
-    set_file_readonly(&dest, true);
+    checkerr!(dump_current_active_runtime(&ar));
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&dest, true));
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -175,6 +183,7 @@ mod tests {
                 name: Some("SteamVR".into()),
             },
         };
-        dump_active_runtime_to_path(&ar, &"./target/testout/active_runtime.json.steamvr".into());
+        dump_active_runtime_to_path(&ar, &"./target/testout/active_runtime.json.steamvr".into())
+            .expect("could not dump active runtime to path");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/file_builders/openvrpaths_vrpath.rs b/src/file_builders/openvrpaths_vrpath.rs
index fadf8a1..da5533a 100644
--- a/src/file_builders/openvrpaths_vrpath.rs
+++ b/src/file_builders/openvrpaths_vrpath.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::{
+    checkerr,
     file_utils::{copy_file, deserialize_file, get_writer, set_file_readonly},
     paths::{get_backup_dir, get_xdg_config_dir, get_xdg_data_dir},
     profile::Profile,
@@ -68,12 +69,15 @@ pub fn get_current_openvrpaths() -> Option<OpenVrPaths> {
     get_openvrpaths_from_path(&get_openvrpaths_vrpath_path())
 }
 
-fn dump_openvrpaths_to_path(ovr_paths: &OpenVrPaths, path_s: &String) {
+fn dump_openvrpaths_to_path(
+    ovr_paths: &OpenVrPaths,
+    path_s: &String,
+) -> Result<(), serde_json::Error> {
     let writer = get_writer(path_s);
-    serde_json::to_writer_pretty(writer, ovr_paths).expect("Unable to save openvrpaths");
+    serde_json::to_writer_pretty(writer, ovr_paths)
 }
 
-pub fn dump_current_openvrpaths(ovr_paths: &OpenVrPaths) {
+pub fn dump_current_openvrpaths(ovr_paths: &OpenVrPaths) -> Result<(), serde_json::Error> {
     dump_openvrpaths_to_path(ovr_paths, &get_openvrpaths_vrpath_path())
 }
 
@@ -96,9 +100,10 @@ fn build_steam_openvrpaths() -> OpenVrPaths {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn set_current_openvrpaths_to_steam() {
-    set_file_readonly(&get_openvrpaths_vrpath_path(), false);
-    dump_current_openvrpaths(&build_steam_openvrpaths())
+pub fn set_current_openvrpaths_to_steam() -> Result<(), ()> {
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&get_openvrpaths_vrpath_path(), false));
+    checkerr!(dump_current_openvrpaths(&build_steam_openvrpaths()));
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 pub fn build_profile_openvrpaths(profile: &Profile) -> OpenVrPaths {
@@ -116,12 +121,13 @@ pub fn build_profile_openvrpaths(profile: &Profile) -> OpenVrPaths {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn set_current_openvrpaths_to_profile(profile: &Profile) {
+pub fn set_current_openvrpaths_to_profile(profile: &Profile) -> Result<(), ()> {
     let dest = get_openvrpaths_vrpath_path();
-    set_file_readonly(&dest, false);
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&dest, false));
     backup_steam_openvrpaths();
-    dump_current_openvrpaths(&build_profile_openvrpaths(profile));
-    set_file_readonly(&dest, true);
+    checkerr!(dump_current_openvrpaths(&build_profile_openvrpaths(profile)));
+    checkerr!(set_file_readonly(&dest, true));
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -152,5 +158,6 @@ mod tests {
             version: 1,
         };
         dump_openvrpaths_to_path(&ovrp, &"./target/testout/openvrpaths.vrpath".into())
+            .expect("could not dump openvrpaths to path");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/file_utils.rs b/src/file_utils.rs
index b4614ad..2cc6fc6 100644
--- a/src/file_utils.rs
+++ b/src/file_utils.rs
@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ pub fn deserialize_file<T: serde::de::DeserializeOwned>(path_s: &String) -> Opti
     }
 }
 
-pub fn set_file_readonly(path_s: &String, readonly: bool) {
+pub fn set_file_readonly(path_s: &String, readonly: bool) -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
     let path = Path::new(&path_s);
     if !path.is_file() {
         println!("WARN: trying to set readonly on a file that does not exist");
-        return;
+        return Ok(());
     }
     let mut perms = fs::metadata(path)
         .expect("Could not get metadata for file")
         .permissions();
     perms.set_readonly(readonly);
-    fs::set_permissions(path, perms).expect("Could not set permissions for file")
+    fs::set_permissions(path, perms)
 }
 
 pub fn setcap_cap_sys_nice_eip(file: String) {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index ac97c69..b29cf47 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ pub mod runner_pipeline;
 pub mod ui;
 pub mod xr_devices;
 pub mod build_tools;
+pub mod checkerr;
 
 fn restore_steam_xr_files() {
     let active_runtime = get_current_active_runtime();
diff --git a/src/ui/app.rs b/src/ui/app.rs
index 3615d75..3392697 100644
--- a/src/ui/app.rs
+++ b/src/ui/app.rs
@@ -126,10 +126,23 @@ impl App {
     }
 
     pub fn start_xrservice(&mut self) {
-        self.set_inhibit_session(true);
         let prof = self.get_selected_profile();
-        set_current_active_runtime_to_profile(&prof);
-        set_current_openvrpaths_to_profile(&prof);
+        if set_current_active_runtime_to_profile(&prof).is_err() {
+            alert(
+                "Failed to start XR Service",
+                Some("Error setting current active runtime to profile"),
+                Some(&self.app_win.clone().upcast::<gtk::Window>()),
+            );
+            return;
+        }
+        if set_current_openvrpaths_to_profile(&prof).is_err() {
+            alert(
+                "Failed to start XR Service",
+                Some("Error setting current openvrpaths file to profile"),
+                Some(&self.app_win.clone().upcast::<gtk::Window>()),
+            );
+            return;
+        };
         self.devices_processed = match prof.xrservice_type {
             XRServiceType::Monado => false,
             XRServiceType::Wivrn => true, // no device from log in wivrn
@@ -145,6 +158,7 @@ impl App {
                         true,
                         Some(self.get_selected_profile()),
                     ));
+                self.set_inhibit_session(true);
             }
             Err(_) => {
                 alert(
@@ -159,15 +173,31 @@ impl App {
         };
     }
 
+    pub fn restore_openxr_openvr_files(&self) {
+        if set_current_active_runtime_to_steam().is_err() {
+            alert(
+                "Could not restore Steam active runtime",
+                None,
+                Some(&self.app_win.clone().upcast::<gtk::Window>()),
+            );
+        }
+        if set_current_openvrpaths_to_steam().is_err() {
+            alert(
+                "Could not restore Steam openvrpaths",
+                None,
+                Some(&self.app_win.clone().upcast::<gtk::Window>()),
+            );
+        };
+    }
+
     pub fn shutdown_xrservice(&mut self) {
+        self.set_inhibit_session(false);
         if self.xrservice_runner.is_some() {
             if self.xrservice_runner.as_mut().unwrap().status() == RunnerStatus::Running {
                 self.xrservice_runner.as_mut().unwrap().terminate();
             }
         }
-        set_current_active_runtime_to_steam();
-        set_current_openvrpaths_to_steam();
-        self.set_inhibit_session(false);
+        self.restore_openxr_openvr_files();
         self.main_view
             .sender()
             .emit(MainViewMsg::XRServiceActiveChanged(false, None));
@@ -231,8 +261,7 @@ impl SimpleComponent for App {
                 self.xrservice_runner.as_mut().unwrap().terminate();
             }
         }
-        set_current_active_runtime_to_steam();
-        set_current_openvrpaths_to_steam();
+        self.restore_openxr_openvr_files();
     }
 
     fn update(&mut self, message: Self::Input, sender: ComponentSender<Self>) {