diff --git a/MultiMC.cpp b/MultiMC.cpp
index 24cdd0773..865d0cf1e 100644
--- a/MultiMC.cpp
+++ b/MultiMC.cpp
@@ -554,17 +554,17 @@ QString MultiMC::getExitUpdatePath() const
 	return m_updateOnExitPath;
 }
 
-void MultiMC::openJsonEditor(const QString &filename)
+bool MultiMC::openJsonEditor(const QString &filename)
 {
 	const QString file = QDir::current().absoluteFilePath(filename);
 	if (m_settings->get("JsonEditor").toString().isEmpty())
 	{
-		QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl::fromLocalFile(file));
+		return QDesktopServices::openUrl(QUrl::fromLocalFile(file));
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		QProcess::startDetached(m_settings->get("JsonEditor").toString(),
-								QStringList() << file);
+		return QProcess::startDetached(m_settings->get("JsonEditor").toString(),
+									   QStringList() << file);
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/MultiMC.h b/MultiMC.h
index 171131815..602a46734 100644
--- a/MultiMC.h
+++ b/MultiMC.h
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public:
 	 * Opens a json file using either a system default editor, or, if note empty, the editor
 	 * specified in the settings
 	 */
-	void openJsonEditor(const QString &filename);
+	bool openJsonEditor(const QString &filename);
 
 private:
 	void initLogger();
diff --git a/gui/dialogs/OneSixModEditDialog.cpp b/gui/dialogs/OneSixModEditDialog.cpp
index e575c8689..3982f17d8 100644
--- a/gui/dialogs/OneSixModEditDialog.cpp
+++ b/gui/dialogs/OneSixModEditDialog.cpp
@@ -140,7 +140,10 @@ void OneSixModEditDialog::on_customEditorBtn_clicked()
 {
 	if (m_inst->versionIsCustom())
 	{
-		MMC->openJsonEditor(m_inst->instanceRoot() + "/custom.json");
+		if (!MMC->openJsonEditor(m_inst->instanceRoot() + "/custom.json"))
+		{
+			QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Error"), tr("Unable to open custom.json, check the settings"));
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/gui/dialogs/SettingsDialog.cpp b/gui/dialogs/SettingsDialog.cpp
index 2797fe4e3..0d97a5a58 100644
--- a/gui/dialogs/SettingsDialog.cpp
+++ b/gui/dialogs/SettingsDialog.cpp
@@ -142,12 +142,21 @@ void SettingsDialog::on_jsonEditorBrowseBtn_clicked()
 			: ui->jsonEditorTextBox->text());
 	QString cooked_file = NormalizePath(raw_file);
 
+	if (cooked_file.isEmpty())
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
 	// it has to exist and be an executable
-	if (!cooked_file.isEmpty() && QFileInfo(cooked_file).exists() &&
+	if (QFileInfo(cooked_file).exists() &&
 		QFileInfo(cooked_file).isExecutable())
 	{
 		ui->jsonEditorTextBox->setText(cooked_file);
 	}
+	else
+	{
+		QMessageBox::warning(this, tr("Invalid"), tr("The file choosen does not seem to be an executable"));
+	}
 }
 
 void SettingsDialog::on_maximizedCheckBox_clicked(bool checked)