diff --git a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/EntryEdit.java b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/EntryEdit.java
index 925d19b73a7e86fab5c5161061b34ad6582db1f4..c96e5af5e7b468eb9151e5beb5bd2e71a115d6ec 100644
--- a/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/EntryEdit.java
+++ b/uk/ac/sanger/artemis/components/EntryEdit.java
@@ -1254,7 +1254,20 @@ public class EntryEdit extends JFrame
           List<String> listBams = fileChooser.getBamFiles();
 
           jamPanel.removeAll();
-          jamView = new BamView(listBams, null, 2000);
+          
+          try
+          {
+            jamView = new BamView(listBams, null, 2000);
+          }
+          catch(Exception ex)
+          {
+            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,
+                ex.getMessage(),
+                "Error",
+                JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
+            return;
+          }
+          
           jamView.setShowScale(false);
           jamView.setBases(getEntryGroup().getBases());
           jamView.addJamToPanel(jamPanel, null, true, feature_display);