                 cb         : (err, res) =>
                     err ?= res.error
                     if err
-                        alert_message
-                            type    : "error"
-                            message : "Unable to read concordance file #{conc_fn} -- #{err}"
+                        console.warn("Unable to read concordance file #{conc_fn} -- #{misc.to_json(err)}")
+                        @get_rnw_concordance_error = true
                     else
                         # concordance file is explained here:
                         # https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/patchDVI/vignettes/patchDVI.pdf

        return ret

    get_rnw_concordance: (cb) =>
        # always call the cb without an error -- otherwise the errors don't show up at all
        if @preview.pdflatex.ext == 'rnw'
            conc_fn = @preview.pdflatex.base_filename + '-concordance.tex'

            (cb) =>
                if @latex_editor.has_uncommitted_changes()
                    delete @_last_update_preview  # running latex on stale version
                    @get_rnw_concordance_error = false
                @run_latex
                    command : @load_conf_doc().latex_command
                    cb      : cb
