diff --git a/src/common/os_input_output.rs b/src/common/os_input_output.rs
index adde6fdff2..6b849efaba 100644
--- a/src/common/os_input_output.rs
+++ b/src/common/os_input_output.rs
@@ -275,14 +275,14 @@ impl Clone for Box<dyn ServerOsApi> {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn get_server_os_input() -> ServerOsInputOutput {
-    let current_termios = termios::tcgetattr(0).unwrap();
+pub fn get_server_os_input() -> Result<ServerOsInputOutput, nix::Error> {
+    let current_termios = termios::tcgetattr(0)?;
     let orig_termios = Arc::new(Mutex::new(current_termios));
-    ServerOsInputOutput {
+    Ok(ServerOsInputOutput {
         orig_termios,
         receive_instructions_from_client: None,
         send_instructions_to_client: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
-    }
+    })
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
@@ -403,12 +403,12 @@ impl Clone for Box<dyn ClientOsApi> {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn get_client_os_input() -> ClientOsInputOutput {
-    let current_termios = termios::tcgetattr(0).unwrap();
+pub fn get_client_os_input() -> Result<ClientOsInputOutput, nix::Error> {
+    let current_termios = termios::tcgetattr(0)?;
     let orig_termios = Arc::new(Mutex::new(current_termios));
-    ClientOsInputOutput {
+    Ok(ClientOsInputOutput {
         orig_termios,
         send_instructions_to_server: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
         receive_instructions_from_server: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
-    }
+    })
 }
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 49e42ffbfa..12842b58cb 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -39,10 +39,22 @@ pub fn main() {
         atomic_create_dir(&*ZELLIJ_TMP_DIR).unwrap();
         atomic_create_dir(&*ZELLIJ_TMP_LOG_DIR).unwrap();
         if let Some(path) = opts.server {
-            let os_input = get_server_os_input();
+            let os_input = match get_server_os_input() {
+                Ok(server_os_input) => server_os_input,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("failed to open terminal:\n{}", e);
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+            };
             start_server(Box::new(os_input), path);
         } else {
-            let os_input = get_client_os_input();
+            let os_input = match get_client_os_input() {
+                Ok(os_input) => os_input,
+                Err(e) => {
+                    eprintln!("failed to open terminal:\n{}", e);
+                    std::process::exit(1);
+                }
+            };
             start_client(Box::new(os_input), opts, config);
         }
     }