diff --git a/gui/main.js b/gui/main.js
index 47f4abcf9..180a25dea 100644
--- a/gui/main.js
+++ b/gui/main.js
@@ -522,11 +522,12 @@ app.on('second-instance', async (event, argv) => {
     log.info('second instance invoked with arguments', { filePath })
 
     // If we found a note to open, stop here. Otherwise, show main window.
-    if (
-      filePath.endsWith('.cozy-note') &&
-      (await openNote(filePath, { desktop }))
-    )
+    if (filePath.endsWith('.cozy-note')) {
+      await openNote(filePath, { desktop })
       return
+    } else {
+      log.warn('file path argument does not have valid Cozy note extension')
+    }
   }
 
   // Make sure the main window exists before trying to show it
@@ -633,19 +634,18 @@ app.on('ready', async () => {
     // We need a valid config to start the App and open the requested note.
     // We assume users won't have notes they want to open without a connected
     // client.
-    if (!desktop.config.syncPath) {
-      await exit(0)
-      return
+    if (desktop.config.syncPath) {
+      if (filePath.endsWith('.cozy-note')) {
+        await openNote(filePath, { desktop })
+      } else {
+        log.warn('file path argument does not have valid Cozy note extension')
+      }
+    } else {
+      log.warn("no valid config")
     }
 
-    // If we found a note to open, stop here. Otherwise, start sync app.
-    if (
-      filePath.endsWith('.cozy-note') &&
-      (await openNote(filePath, { desktop }))
-    ) {
-      await exit(0)
-      return
-    }
+    await exit(0)
+    return
   }
 
   if (shouldStartSync) {
diff --git a/gui/utils/notes.js b/gui/utils/notes.js
index 77b2ceb2b..b4871f075 100644
--- a/gui/utils/notes.js
+++ b/gui/utils/notes.js
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ const openMarkdownViewer = async (
   }
 }
 
-const showGenericError = (filePath, err) => {
+const showGenericError = async (filePath, err) => {
   log.error('Could not display markdown content of note', {
     err,
     path: filePath,
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ const showGenericError = (filePath, err) => {
     sentry: true
   })
 
-  dialog.showMessageBoxSync(null, {
+  await dialog.showMessageBox(null, {
     type: 'error',
     message: translate('Error Unexpected error'),
-    details: `${err.name}: ${err.message}`,
+    detail: `${err.name}: ${err.message}`,
     buttons: [translate('AppMenu Close')]
   })
 }
@@ -119,11 +119,11 @@ const openNote = async (
         )
         return true
       } catch (err) {
-        showGenericError(filePath, err)
+        await showGenericError(filePath, err)
         return false
       }
     } else {
-      showGenericError(filePath, err)
+      await showGenericError(filePath, err)
       return false
     }
   }