diff --git a/Timeline/LASH.C b/Timeline/LASH.C
index 3cfca47..dbcce00 100644
--- a/Timeline/LASH.C
+++ b/Timeline/LASH.C
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ LASH::handle_restore_file ( const char *path )
 
     fclose( fp );
 
-    return Project::open( project_path );
+    return Project::open( project_path ) == 0;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/Timeline/Project.C b/Timeline/Project.C
index 457a086..816e11e 100644
--- a/Timeline/Project.C
+++ b/Timeline/Project.C
@@ -209,11 +209,12 @@ Project::validate ( const char *name )
     return r;
 }
 
-bool
+/** try to open project /name/. Returns 0 if sucsessful, an error code otherwise */
+int
 Project::open ( const char *name )
 {
     if ( ! validate( name ) )
-        return false;
+        return E_INVALID;
 
     close();
 
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ Project::open ( const char *name )
     if ( ! get_lock( ".lock" ) )
     {
         WARNING( "Could not open project: locked by another process!" );
-        return false;
+        return Project::E_LOCKED;
     }
 
     if ( ! Loggable::open( "history" ) )
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ Project::open ( const char *name )
 
     timeline->zoom_fit();
 
-    return true;
+    return 0;
 }
 
 bool
@@ -271,7 +272,7 @@ Project::create ( const char *name, const char *template_name )
 
     /* TODO: copy template */
 
-    if ( open( name ) )
+    if ( open( name ) == 0 )
     {
         write_info();
 
diff --git a/Timeline/Project.H b/Timeline/Project.H
index 1aab871..359344d 100644
--- a/Timeline/Project.H
+++ b/Timeline/Project.H
@@ -33,13 +33,20 @@ class Project
 
 public:
 
+    enum
+    {
+        E_INVALID = -1,
+        E_LOCKED = -2,
+        E_PERM = -3,
+    };
+
     static bool write_info ( void );
     static bool read_info ( void );
     static const char *name ( void ) { return Project::_name; }
     static void set_name ( const char *name );
     static bool close ( void );
     static bool validate ( const char *name );
-    static bool open ( const char *name );
+    static int open ( const char *name );
     static bool open ( void ) { return _is_open; }
     static bool create ( const char *name, const char *template_name );
 
diff --git a/Timeline/TLE.fl b/Timeline/TLE.fl
index 9e7abae..a5985f7 100644
--- a/Timeline/TLE.fl
+++ b/Timeline/TLE.fl
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ Loggable::progress_callback( &TLE::progress_cb, this );} {}
   Function {make_window()} {open
   } {
     Fl_Window main_window {
-      label Timeline
+      label Timeline open
       xywh {174 117 1025 770} type Double resizable xclass Non_DAW visible
     } {
-      Fl_Menu_Bar menubar {
+      Fl_Menu_Bar menubar {open
         xywh {0 0 1024 25}
       } {
         Submenu {} {
@@ -198,16 +198,29 @@ if ( ! name )
 	return;
 	
 
-if ( ! Project::validate( name ) )
-{
-	fl_alert( "The path \\"%s\\"\\ndoes not refer to a valid Non-DAW project!", name );
-}
-else if ( ! Project::open( name ) )
-{
-	fl_alert( "Could not open \\"%s\\" as a Non-DAW project!", name );
+int r = Project::open( name );
 	
+if ( r < 0 )
+{
+	const char *s = "";
+	
+	switch ( r )
+	{
+		case Project::E_LOCKED:
+			s = "Locked by another process";
+			break;
+		case Project::E_PERM:
+			s = "Access denied";
+			break;
+		case Project::E_INVALID:
+			s = "Not a Non-DAW project";
+			break;
+	}
+			
+
+	fl_alert( "Could not open project \\"%s\\":\\n\\n\\t%s", name, s );
 	// we are in a somewhar ambiguous state now with no project open.
-}}
+}} selected
             xywh {10 10 40 25}
           }
           MenuItem {} {
@@ -932,7 +945,7 @@ while ( window->shown() )
   Function {make_window()} {open
   } {
     Fl_Window window {
-      label {Project info} open selected
+      label {Project info} open
       private xywh {649 226 520 625} type Double modal visible
     } {
       Fl_Value_Output {} {
diff --git a/Timeline/main.C b/Timeline/main.C
index 6cdd605..2cf95f0 100644
--- a/Timeline/main.C
+++ b/Timeline/main.C
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ main ( int argc, char **argv )
     tle->run();
 
     if ( argc > 1 )
-        if ( ! Project::open( argv[ 1 ] ) )
+        if ( Project::open( argv[ 1 ] ) != 0 )
             FATAL( "Could not open project specified on command line" );
 
     /* FIXME: open project in /tmp if none is given? */