4 files changed, 15 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/confirm.go b/confirm.go
index a7d4748..31ce746 100644
--- a/confirm.go
+++ b/confirm.go
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ func (m confirmModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			m.viewport.Width = msg.Width - padding_h
 			m.viewport.Height = msg.Height - verticalMarginHeight - padding_v
 		}
+	case fatalErrorMsg:
+		fmt.Printf("encountered fatal error: %s\n", msg.Error())
+		return m, tea.Quit
 	}
 
 	// Handle keyboard and mouse events in the viewport
diff --git a/editing.go b/editing.go
index f5369d3..3ce6fd0 100644
--- a/editing.go
+++ b/editing.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 
@@ -43,6 +44,9 @@ func (m detailsModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 			// exit without saving
 			return m.returnTo, m.returnTo.Init()
 		}
+	case fatalErrorMsg:
+		fmt.Printf("encountered fatal error: %s\n", msg.Error())
+		return m, tea.Quit
 	}
 	m.ti, cmd = m.ti.Update(msg)
 	return m, cmd
@@ -70,7 +74,7 @@ func saveSnippetCmd(snippet snippetDetails) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
 		err := saveSnippet(snippet)
 		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
+			return fatalErrorMsg(err)
 		}
 
 		return updateListMsg{}
@@ -97,7 +101,7 @@ func deleteItemCmd(item item) tea.Cmd {
 	return func() tea.Msg {
 		err := deleteItem(item)
 		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
+			return fatalErrorMsg(err)
 		}
 
 		return updateListMsg{}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index c4cb4f2..4bee772 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ type item struct {
 	contents string
 }
 
+type fatalErrorMsg error
+
 func (i item) Title() string       { return i.title }
 func (i item) Description() string { return i.contents }
 func (i item) FilterValue() string { return i.title }
diff --git a/selecting.go b/selecting.go
index 7eeae72..0817d3d 100644
--- a/selecting.go
+++ b/selecting.go
@@ -78,12 +78,15 @@ func (m selectingModel) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		cmds = append(cmds, func() tea.Msg {
 			items, err := getItems()
 			if err != nil {
-				panic(err)
+				return fatalErrorMsg(err)
 			}
 
 			return setListItemsMsg{items}
 		})
 
+	case fatalErrorMsg:
+		fmt.Printf("encountered fatal error: %s\n", msg.Error())
+		return m, tea.Quit
 	}
 
 	// This will also call our delegate's update function.