diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 126787b..3d7ebae 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 all:
 	@GO111MODULE=off go vet
 	@echo go vet: this go library package builds okay
+
+test:
 	make -C testGui
 
 goimports:
diff --git a/newRepo.go b/newRepo.go
index 0932ed6..3dbde0e 100644
--- a/newRepo.go
+++ b/newRepo.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package repolist
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+
 	"go.wit.com/lib/gui/repostatus"
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/gitpb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
@@ -60,9 +62,14 @@ func (r *RepoRow) Show2() {
 
 // adds a gui row to the table based off the repo protobuf
 func (r *RepoList) AddRepo(pb *gitpb.Repo) (*RepoRow, error) {
+	if !pb.IsDirectory() {
+		// this directory doesn't exist anymore
+		// was moved, or isn't in the ~/go/src or wherever go.work is
+		return nil, errors.New("path is gone: " + pb.FullPath)
+	}
 	test, ok := r.allrepos[pb.GetGoPath()]
 	if ok {
-		// this repo already exists
+		// this repo gopath was already added
 		return test, nil
 	}