diff --git a/espanso-detect/src/evdev/mod.rs b/espanso-detect/src/evdev/mod.rs
index 9faf115..e87c87f 100644
--- a/espanso-detect/src/evdev/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-detect/src/evdev/mod.rs
@@ -100,9 +100,10 @@ impl Source for EVDEVSource {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) {
+  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) -> Result<()> {
     if self.devices.is_empty() {
-      panic!("can't start eventloop without evdev devices");
+      error!("can't start eventloop without evdev devices");
+      return Err(EVDEVSourceError::NoDevices().into());
     }
 
     let raw_epfd = unsafe { libc::epoll_create1(0) };
@@ -111,7 +112,8 @@ impl Source for EVDEVSource {
     });
 
     if *epfd < 0 {
-      panic!("could not create epoll instance");
+      error!("could not create epoll instance");
+      return Err(EVDEVSourceError::Internal().into());
     }
 
     // Setup epoll for all input devices
@@ -121,11 +123,12 @@ impl Source for EVDEVSource {
       ev.events = EPOLLIN as u32;
       ev.u64 = i as u64;
       if unsafe { epoll_ctl(*epfd, EPOLL_CTL_ADD, device.get_raw_fd(), &mut ev) } != 0 {
-        panic!(format!(
+        error!(
           "Could not add {} to epoll, errno {}",
           device.get_path(),
           unsafe { *errno_ptr }
-        ));
+        );
+        return Err(EVDEVSourceError::Internal().into());
       }
     }
 
@@ -137,9 +140,10 @@ impl Source for EVDEVSource {
         if unsafe { *errno_ptr } == EINTR {
           continue;
         } else {
-          panic!(format!("Could not poll for events, {}", unsafe {
+          error!("Could not poll for events, {}", unsafe {
             *errno_ptr
-          }))
+          });
+          return Err(EVDEVSourceError::Internal().into());
         }
       }
 
@@ -172,6 +176,12 @@ pub enum EVDEVSourceError {
 
   #[error("permission denied")]
   PermissionDenied(),
+
+  #[error("no devices")]
+  NoDevices(),
+
+  #[error("internal error")]
+  Internal(),
 }
 
 impl From<RawInputEvent> for Option<InputEvent> {
diff --git a/espanso-detect/src/x11/mod.rs b/espanso-detect/src/x11/mod.rs
index 36326ee..b753b31 100644
--- a/espanso-detect/src/x11/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-detect/src/x11/mod.rs
@@ -114,13 +114,15 @@ impl Source for X11Source {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) {
+  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) -> Result<()> {
     if self.handle.is_null() {
-      panic!("Attempt to start X11Source eventloop without initialization");
+      error!("Attempt to start X11Source eventloop without initialization");
+      return Err(X11SourceError::Internal().into());
     }
 
     if self.callback.fill(event_callback).is_err() {
-      panic!("Unable to set X11Source event callback");
+      error!("Unable to set X11Source event callback");
+      return Err(X11SourceError::Internal().into());
     }
 
     extern "C" fn callback(_self: *mut X11Source, event: RawInputEvent) {
@@ -137,8 +139,11 @@ impl Source for X11Source {
     let error_code = unsafe { detect_eventloop(self.handle, callback) };
 
     if error_code <= 0 {
-      panic!("X11Source eventloop returned a negative error code");
+      error!("X11Source eventloop returned a negative error code");
+      return Err(X11SourceError::Internal().into());
     }
+
+    Ok(())
   }
 }
 
@@ -173,6 +178,9 @@ pub enum X11SourceError {
 
   #[error("unknown error")]
   Unknown(),
+
+  #[error("internal error")]
+  Internal(),
 }
 
 impl From<RawInputEvent> for Option<InputEvent> {
diff --git a/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs b/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
index f1d6032..197d9eb 100644
--- a/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEve
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEventLoop>)> {
+pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn 
+  UIEventLoop>)> {
   let (remote, eventloop) = mac::create(mac::MacUIOptions {
     show_icon: options.show_icon,
     icon_paths: &options.icon_paths,
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEve
 #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEventLoop>)> {
   let (remote, eventloop) = linux::create(linux::LinuxUIOptions {
-    notification_icon_path: options.notification_icon_path.ok_or(UIError::MissingOption("notification icon".to_string()))?,
+    notification_icon_path: options.notification_icon_path.ok_or_else(|| UIError::MissingOption("notification icon".to_string()))?,
   });
   Ok((Box::new(remote), Box::new(eventloop)))
 }
diff --git a/espanso-ui/src/linux/mod.rs b/espanso-ui/src/linux/mod.rs
index 66a28e4..2ed70c2 100644
--- a/espanso-ui/src/linux/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-ui/src/linux/mod.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use log::error;
+use anyhow::Result;
 use notify_rust::Notification;
 use std::sync::mpsc;
 use std::sync::mpsc::{Receiver, Sender};
@@ -66,13 +67,19 @@ impl LinuxEventLoop {
 }
 
 impl UIEventLoop for LinuxEventLoop {
-  fn initialize(&mut self) {
+  fn initialize(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
     // NOOP on linux
+    Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn run(&self, _: crate::UIEventCallback) {
+  fn run(&self, _: crate::UIEventCallback) -> Result<()> {
     // We don't run an event loop on Linux as there is no tray icon or application window needed.
     // Thad said, we still need a way to block this method, and thus we use a channel
-    self.rx.recv().expect("Unable to block the LinuxEventLoop");
+    if let Err(error) = self.rx.recv() {
+      error!("Unable to block the LinuxEventLoop: {}", error);
+      return Err(error.into());
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
   }
 }