diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index df408aa..bff29de 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ enum Message {
 struct State {
     table: data::Table,
     content: widget::text_editor::Content,
+
+    /// has the application initialized successfully?
+    ok: bool,
 }
 impl State {
     fn new() -> Self {
@@ -72,6 +75,8 @@ impl State {
             }
         }
 
+        state.ok = true;
+
         state
     }
     fn view(&self) -> Element<'_, Message, Theme, Renderer> {
@@ -236,6 +241,11 @@ impl State {
 }
 impl Drop for State {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if !self.ok {
+            eprintln!("app failed to start, not saving data");
+            return;
+        }
+
         ron::Options::default()
             .to_io_writer(
                 fs::File::create(data!()).unwrap(),
@@ -245,6 +255,8 @@ impl Drop for State {
                 },
             )
             .unwrap();
+
+        eprintln!("successfully saved data");
     }
 }