diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 53603152..f988a63d 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -639,16 +639,20 @@ impl Future for Main {
                     progress = true;
                     if let Some(ref program) = self.player_event_program {
                         if let Some(child) = run_program_on_events(event, program) {
-                            let child = child
-                                .expect("program failed to start")
-                                .map(|status| {
-                                    if !status.success() {
-                                        error!("child exited with status {:?}", status.code());
-                                    }
-                                })
-                                .map_err(|e| error!("failed to wait on child process: {}", e));
+                            if child.is_ok() {
+                                let child = child
+                                    .unwrap()
+                                    .map(|status| {
+                                        if !status.success() {
+                                            error!("child exited with status {:?}", status.code());
+                                        }
+                                    })
+                                    .map_err(|e| error!("failed to wait on child process: {}", e));
 
-                            self.handle.spawn(child);
+                                self.handle.spawn(child);
+                            } else {
+                                error!("{:?} failed to start", program);
+                            }
                         }
                     }
                 }