diff --git a/ssheven-constants.r b/ssheven-constants.r
index 019db72..104b0e4 100644
--- a/ssheven-constants.r
+++ b/ssheven-constants.r
@@ -71,6 +71,10 @@
 #define DLOG_KEY_PASSWORD 138
 #define DITL_KEY_PASSWORD 138
 
+/* alert for key file read failure */
+#define ALRT_FILE_FAIL 139
+#define DITL_FILE_FAIL 139
+
 /* menus */
 #define MBAR_SSHEVEN 128
 #define MENU_APPLE   128
diff --git a/ssheven.c b/ssheven.c
index 97a8de9..986b120 100644
--- a/ssheven.c
+++ b/ssheven.c
@@ -23,9 +23,12 @@ enum { WAIT, READ, EXIT } read_thread_command = WAIT;
 enum { UNINTIALIZED, OPEN, CLEANUP, DONE } read_thread_state = UNINTIALIZED;
 enum { KEY_LOGIN, PASSWORD_LOGIN } login_type = PASSWORD_LOGIN;
 
+// pascal strings
 char hostname[512] = {0};
 char username[256] = {0};
 char password[256] = {0};
+
+// malloc'd c strings
 char* pubkey_path = NULL;
 char* privkey_path = NULL;
 
@@ -847,7 +850,8 @@ void* read_thread(void* arg)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			if (rc == LIBSSH2_ERROR_AUTHENTICATION_FAILED) StopAlert(ALRT_PW_FAIL, nil);
+			if (rc == LIBSSH2_ERROR_AUTHENTICATION_FAILED && login_type == PASSWORD_LOGIN) StopAlert(ALRT_PW_FAIL, nil);
+			if (rc == LIBSSH2_ERROR_FILE) StopAlert(ALRT_FILE_FAIL, nil);
 			printf_i("failure: %s\r\n", libssh2_error_string(rc));
 			ok = 0;
 		}
diff --git a/ssheven.r b/ssheven.r
index 2277014..fc706ba 100644
--- a/ssheven.r
+++ b/ssheven.r
@@ -308,6 +308,30 @@ resource 'ALRT' (ALRT_PRIVKEY, purgeable) {
 	alertPositionMainScreen
 };
 
+resource 'DITL' (DITL_FILE_FAIL) {
+	{
+		{ 50, 260, 70, 340 },
+		Button { enabled, "OK" };
+
+		{ 10, 70, 30, 340 },
+		StaticText { enabled, "Couldn't load key files!" };
+	}
+};
+
+resource 'ALRT' (ALRT_FILE_FAIL, purgeable) {
+	{ 50, 100, 50+80, 100+350 },
+	DITL_FILE_FAIL,
+
+	/* OK means draw default border on first button */
+	{
+		OK, visible, silent,
+		OK, visible, silent,
+		OK, visible, silent,
+		OK, visible, silent
+	},
+	alertPositionMainScreen
+};
+
 #include "Processes.r"
 
 resource 'SIZE' (-1) {