diff --git a/src/core/core.cpp b/src/core/core.cpp
index 4c30b0bfb..e59a659c6 100644
--- a/src/core/core.cpp
+++ b/src/core/core.cpp
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ void Core::registerCallbacks(Tox * tox) {
  * @param settings Settings specific to Core
  * @return nullptr or a Core object ready to start
  */
-ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * const settings)
+ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * const settings,
+                             ToxCoreErrors *err)
 {
     QThread* thread = new QThread();
     if (thread == nullptr) {
@@ -112,11 +113,17 @@ ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * c
     auto toxOptions = ToxOptions::makeToxOptions(savedata, settings);
     if (toxOptions == nullptr) {
         qCritical() << "could not allocate Tox Options data structure";
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::ERROR_ALLOC;
+        }
         return {};
     }
 
     ToxCorePtr core(new Core(thread));
     if(core == nullptr) {
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::ERROR_ALLOC;
+        }
         return {};
     }
 
@@ -129,6 +136,9 @@ ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * c
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_LOAD_BAD_FORMAT:
         qCritical() << "failed to parse Tox save data";
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::BAD_PROXY;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_PORT_ALLOC:
@@ -143,38 +153,53 @@ ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * c
         }
 
         qCritical() << "can't to bind the port";
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::FAILED_TO_START;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_PROXY_BAD_HOST:
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_PROXY_BAD_PORT:
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_PROXY_BAD_TYPE:
         qCritical() << "bad proxy, error code:" << tox_err;
-        //emit badProxy();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::BAD_PROXY;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_PROXY_NOT_FOUND:
         qCritical() << "proxy not found";
-        //emit badProxy();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::BAD_PROXY;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_LOAD_ENCRYPTED:
         qCritical() << "attempted to load encrypted Tox save data";
-        //emit failedToStart();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::INVALID_SAVE;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_MALLOC:
         qCritical() << "memory allocation failed";
-        //emit failedToStart();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::ERROR_ALLOC;
+        }
         return {};
 
     case TOX_ERR_NEW_NULL:
         qCritical() << "a parameter was null";
-        //emit failedToStart();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::FAILED_TO_START;
+        }
         return {};
 
     default:
         qCritical() << "Tox core failed to start, unknown error code:" << tox_err;
-        //emit failedToStart();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::FAILED_TO_START;
+        }
         return {};
     }
 
@@ -186,8 +211,9 @@ ToxCorePtr Core::makeToxCore(const QByteArray &savedata, const ICoreSettings * c
     core->av = new CoreAV(core->tox);
     if (!core->av || !core->av->getToxAv()) {
         qCritical() << "Toxav failed to start";
-        //emit failedToStart();
-        //deadifyTox();
+        if(err) {
+            *err = ToxCoreErrors::FAILED_TO_START;
+        }
         return {};
     }
 
diff --git a/src/core/core.h b/src/core/core.h
index 930be4c78..eced60d3e 100644
--- a/src/core/core.h
+++ b/src/core/core.h
@@ -56,7 +56,15 @@ class Core : public QObject
     Q_OBJECT
 public:
 
-    static ToxCorePtr makeToxCore(const QByteArray& savedata, const ICoreSettings* const settings);
+    enum class ToxCoreErrors {
+        BAD_PROXY,
+        INVALID_SAVE,
+        FAILED_TO_START,
+        ERROR_ALLOC
+    };
+
+    static ToxCorePtr makeToxCore(const QByteArray& savedata, const ICoreSettings* const settings,
+                                  ToxCoreErrors* err = nullptr);
     static Core* getInstance();
     const CoreAV* getAv() const;
     CoreAV* getAv();
@@ -173,8 +181,6 @@ signals:
     void failedToSetStatus(Status status);
     void failedToSetTyping(bool typing);
 
-    void failedToStart();
-    void badProxy();
     void avReady();
 
     void fileSendStarted(ToxFile file);
diff --git a/src/nexus.cpp b/src/nexus.cpp
index 413d383aa..bf8b31558 100644
--- a/src/nexus.cpp
+++ b/src/nexus.cpp
@@ -194,9 +194,9 @@ void Nexus::showMainGUI()
 
     connect(core, &Core::connected, widget, &Widget::onConnected);
     connect(core, &Core::disconnected, widget, &Widget::onDisconnected);
-    connect(core, &Core::failedToStart, widget, &Widget::onFailedToStartCore,
+    connect(profile, &Profile::failedToStart, widget, &Widget::onFailedToStartCore,
             Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection);
-    connect(core, &Core::badProxy, widget, &Widget::onBadProxyCore, Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection);
+    connect(profile, &Profile::badProxy, widget, &Widget::onBadProxyCore, Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection);
     connect(core, &Core::statusSet, widget, &Widget::onStatusSet);
     connect(core, &Core::usernameSet, widget, &Widget::setUsername);
     connect(core, &Core::statusMessageSet, widget, &Widget::setStatusMessage);
diff --git a/src/persistence/profile.cpp b/src/persistence/profile.cpp
index 9b0f2f417..143a6fa1b 100644
--- a/src/persistence/profile.cpp
+++ b/src/persistence/profile.cpp
@@ -60,8 +60,20 @@ Profile::Profile(QString name, const QString& password, bool isNewProfile, const
     s.setCurrentProfile(name);
     s.saveGlobal();
 
-    core = Core::makeToxCore(toxsave, &s);
+    Core::ToxCoreErrors err;
+    core = Core::makeToxCore(toxsave, &s, &err);
     if(!core) {
+        switch (err) {
+        case Core::ToxCoreErrors::BAD_PROXY:
+            emit badProxy();
+            break;
+        case Core::ToxCoreErrors::ERROR_ALLOC:
+        case Core::ToxCoreErrors::FAILED_TO_START:
+        case Core::ToxCoreErrors::INVALID_SAVE:
+        default:
+            emit failedToStart();
+        }
+
         qDebug() << "failed to start ToxCore";
         return;
     }
diff --git a/src/persistence/profile.h b/src/persistence/profile.h
index 8a72b4ceb..ee11ecf8d 100644
--- a/src/persistence/profile.h
+++ b/src/persistence/profile.h
@@ -82,6 +82,10 @@ public:
 signals:
     void selfAvatarChanged(const QPixmap& pixmap);
 
+    // TODO(sudden6): this doesn't seem to be the right place for Core errors
+    void failedToStart();
+    void badProxy();
+
 public slots:
     void onRequestSent(const ToxPk& friendPk, const QString& message);