diff --git a/init.go b/init.go
index d49c425..a2a3198 100644
--- a/init.go
+++ b/init.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"sync"
+	"time"
 
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
@@ -123,10 +124,23 @@ func guiMain() {
 			return
 		}
 	}()
+
+	// TODO: THIS IS THE PROBLEM
 	ui.Main(func() {
 		// this is a bad hack for now.
 		// a better way would be to spawn ui.Main on the first actual window
 		// that is supposed to be displayed
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			log.Log(WARN, "YAHOO andlabs GUI recovered in guiMain()")
+			log.Log(WARN, "Stack trace:")
+			debug.PrintStack()
+			log.Log(WARN, "Recovered from panic:", r)
+			log.Log(WARN, "andlabs GUI recovered in guiMain()")
+			log.Log(WARN, "YAHOO andlabs GUI recovered in guiMain()")
+			me.myTree.SendToolkitPanic()
+			return
+		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Second)
 		placeholderUI()
 
 		me.myTree.InitOK()