                     timeout : 60
                     cb      : (err, group) =>
                         if err
-                            @set_activity(id:misc.uuid(), error:"opening file -- #{err}")
+                            @set_activity
+                                id    : misc.uuid()
+                                error : "opening file -- #{err}"
+                            return
 
                         ext = misc.filename_extension_notilde(opts.path).toLowerCase()
 

                        @redux.getActions('file_use')?.mark_file(@project_id, opts.path, 'open')

                        @log
                            event  : 'open'
                            action : 'open'
                            filename  : opts.path

                        store = @get_store()

                    # TODO: what do we want to do if a log doesn't get recorded?
                    console.log('error recording a log entry: ', err)

    open_file: (opts) =>
        opts = defaults opts,
            path               : required
            foreground         : true      # display in foreground as soon as possible
