diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/kitty_commands.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/kitty_commands.lua
index de0c0fdb..7e4fbeb2 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/kitty_commands.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/kitty_commands.lua
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ local function defer_resize_term(min_cols)
   return orig_columns
 end
 
+M.open_term_command = vim.fn.has('nvim-0.11') <= 0 and 'termopen' or 'jobstart'
+
 ---@param get_text_opts KsbKittyGetTextArguments
 ---@param on_exit_cb function
 M.get_text_term = function(get_text_opts, on_exit_cb)
@@ -81,9 +83,8 @@ M.get_text_term = function(get_text_opts, on_exit_cb)
   -- set the shell used to sh to avoid imcompatabiliies with other shells (e.g., nushell, fish, etc)
   vim.o.shell = 'sh'
 
-  local open_term_fn = vim.fn.jobstart
+  local open_term_fn = vim.fn[M.open_term_command]
   local open_term_options = {
-    term = true,
     stdout_buffered = true,
     stderr_buffered = true,
     on_stdout = function(_, data)
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ M.get_text_term = function(get_text_opts, on_exit_cb)
           end
 
           if error_index > 0 then
-            ksb_util.display_error(scrollback_cmd, {
+            ksb_util.display_cmd_error(scrollback_cmd, {
               entrypoint = 'open_term_fn() :: exit_code = 0 and error_index > 0',
               full_cmd = full_cmd,
               code = 1, -- exit code is not returned through pipe but we can assume 1 due to error message
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ M.get_text_term = function(get_text_opts, on_exit_cb)
               :gsub([[\x1b\\]], '')
               :gsub(';k=s', '')
           or nil
-        ksb_util.display_error(full_cmd, {
+        ksb_util.display_cmd_error(full_cmd, {
           entrypoint = 'open_term_fn() :: exit_code ~= 0',
           code = exit_code,
           channel_id = id,
@@ -152,14 +153,13 @@ M.get_text_term = function(get_text_opts, on_exit_cb)
       end
     end,
   }
-  if vim.fn.has('nvim-0.11') <= 0 then
-    open_term_fn = vim.fn.termopen
-    open_term_options.term = nil
+  if M.open_term_command == 'jobstart' then
+    open_term_options.term = true
   end
 
   local success, error = pcall(open_term_fn, full_cmd, open_term_options)
   if not success then
-    ksb_util.display_error(full_cmd, {
+    ksb_util.display_cmd_error(full_cmd, {
       entrypoint = 'open_term_fn() :: pcall(open_term_fn) error returned',
       stderr = error or nil,
     }, error_header)
diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
index cc3bd39d..db501a9f 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/launch.lua
@@ -409,8 +409,27 @@ M.launch = function()
             win = 0,
           }
         )
-        ---@diagnostic disable-next-line: param-type-mismatch
-        vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(vim.fn.bufnr('#'), { force = true }) -- delete alt buffer after rename
+
+        local alternate_file_bufnr = vim.fn.bufnr('#')
+        if alternate_file_bufnr > 0 then
+          vim.api.nvim_buf_delete(alternate_file_bufnr, { force = true }) -- delete alt buffer after rename
+        else
+          ksb_util.display_error({
+            [[- ERROR alternate file not found]],
+            [[  `vim.fn.bufnr('#')` is ]]
+              .. alternate_file_bufnr
+              .. [[. Most likely `]]
+              .. ksb_kitty_cmds.open_term_command
+              .. [[` failed. ]],
+            [[  Please report the issue at https://github.com/mikesmithgh/kitty-scrollback.nvim/issues]],
+            [[  and provide the `KittyScrollbackCheckHealth` report.]],
+          })
+          ksb_api.close_kitty_loading_window()
+          if block_input_timer then
+            vim.fn.timer_stop(block_input_timer)
+          end
+          return
+        end
 
         if opts.restore_options then
           restore_orig_options()
diff --git a/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua b/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
index 31a77eaa..7173b8c4 100644
--- a/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
+++ b/lua/kitty-scrollback/util.lua
@@ -120,7 +120,35 @@ M.plug_mapping_names = {
   PASTE_CMD = '<Plug>(KsbPasteCmd)',
 }
 
-M.display_error = function(cmd, r, header)
+M.display_error = function(msg)
+  local error_header = {
+    '',
+    '==============================================================================',
+    'kitty-scrollback.nvim',
+    '',
+    'A fatal error occurred ~',
+  }
+  msg = msg or {}
+  local error_bufid = vim.api.nvim_create_buf(false, true)
+  vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name(error_bufid, vim.fn.tempname() .. '.ksb_errorbuf')
+  vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(error_bufid)
+  vim.o.conceallevel = 2
+  vim.o.concealcursor = 'n'
+  vim.o.foldenable = false
+  vim.api.nvim_set_option_value('filetype', 'checkhealth', {
+    buf = error_bufid,
+  })
+  M.restore_and_redraw()
+  local prompt_msg = 'kitty-scrollback.nvim: Fatal error, see logs.'
+  vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(error_bufid, 0, -1, false, vim.list_extend(error_header, msg))
+  M.restore_and_redraw()
+  local response = vim.fn.confirm(prompt_msg, '&Quit\n&Continue')
+  if response ~= 2 then
+    M.quitall()
+  end
+end
+
+M.display_cmd_error = function(cmd, r, header)
   local msg = vim.list_extend({}, header or {})
   local stdout = r.stdout or ''
   local stderr = r.stderr or ''
@@ -203,7 +231,7 @@ M.system_handle_error = function(cmd, error_header, sys_opts, ignore_error)
   local ok = result.code == 0
 
   if not ignore_error and not ok then
-    M.display_error(table.concat(cmd, ' '), {
+    M.display_cmd_error(table.concat(cmd, ' '), {
       entrypoint = 'vim.system()',
       pid = proc.pid,
       code = result.code,