diff --git a/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp b/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
index ef8f5075e..af8c70c64 100644
--- a/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectFileManager.cpp
@@ -764,6 +764,25 @@ bool ProjectFileManager::OpenProject()
    return projectFileIO.OpenProject();
 }
 
+bool ProjectFileManager::OpenNewProject()
+{
+   auto &project = mProject;
+   auto &projectFileIO = ProjectFileIO::Get(project);
+
+   bool bOK = OpenProject();
+   if( !bOK )
+   {
+      ShowErrorDialog(
+         nullptr,
+         XO("Can't open new empty project"),
+         XO("Error opening a new empty project"), 
+         "FAQ:Errors_opening_a_new_empty_project",
+         true, 
+         projectFileIO.GetLastLog());
+   }
+   return bOK;
+}
+
 void ProjectFileManager::CloseProject()
 {
    auto &project = mProject;
diff --git a/src/ProjectFileManager.h b/src/ProjectFileManager.h
index 451c5f56e..8522f461e 100644
--- a/src/ProjectFileManager.h
+++ b/src/ProjectFileManager.h
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ public:
 
    bool OpenProject();
    void CloseProject();
+   bool OpenNewProject();
 
    void CompactProjectOnClose();
 
diff --git a/src/ProjectManager.cpp b/src/ProjectManager.cpp
index 24c4bfd01..5e6c48662 100644
--- a/src/ProjectManager.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectManager.cpp
@@ -537,18 +537,20 @@ AudacityProject *ProjectManager::New()
    auto &window = ProjectWindow::Get( *p );
    InitProjectWindow( window );
 
+   // wxGTK3 seems to need to require creating the window using default position
+   // and then manually positioning it.
+   window.SetPosition(wndRect.GetPosition());
+
    auto &projectFileManager = ProjectFileManager::Get( *p );
-   projectFileManager.OpenProject();
+
+   // This may report an error.
+   projectFileManager.OpenNewProject();
 
    MenuManager::Get( project ).CreateMenusAndCommands( project );
    
    projectHistory.InitialState();
    projectManager.RestartTimer();
    
-   // wxGTK3 seems to need to require creating the window using default position
-   // and then manually positioning it.
-   window.SetPosition(wndRect.GetPosition());
-   
    if(bMaximized) {
       window.Maximize(true);
    }