diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 99060e8..9352572 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "crossbeam",
  "log",
+ "named_pipe",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "thiserror",
@@ -393,6 +394,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "autocfg",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "named_pipe"
+version = "0.4.1"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "ad9c443cce91fc3e12f017290db75dde490d685cdaaf508d7159d7cf41f0eb2b"
+dependencies = [
+ "winapi",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "notify-rust"
 version = "4.2.2"
diff --git a/espanso-detect/src/lib.rs b/espanso-detect/src/lib.rs
index 3915ae9..11e0927 100644
--- a/espanso-detect/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-detect/src/lib.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub type SourceCallback = Box<dyn Fn(event::InputEvent)>;
 
 pub trait Source {
   fn initialize(&mut self) -> Result<()>;
-  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback);
+  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) -> Result<()>;
 }
 
 #[allow(dead_code)]
diff --git a/espanso-detect/src/win32/mod.rs b/espanso-detect/src/win32/mod.rs
index bb0c01a..48ddd18 100644
--- a/espanso-detect/src/win32/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-detect/src/win32/mod.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use widestring::U16CStr;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use thiserror::Error;
 
-use crate::event::Status::*;
+use crate::{Source, SourceCallback, event::Status::*};
 use crate::event::Variant::*;
 use crate::event::{InputEvent, Key, KeyboardEvent, Variant};
 use crate::event::{Key::*, MouseButton, MouseEvent};
@@ -109,13 +109,14 @@ impl Source for Win32Source {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) {
+  fn eventloop(&self, event_callback: SourceCallback) -> Result<()> {
     if self.handle.is_null() {
       panic!("Attempt to start Win32Source eventloop without initialization");
     }
 
     if self.callback.fill(event_callback).is_err() {
-      panic!("Unable to set Win32Source event callback");
+      error!("Unable to set Win32Source event callback");
+      return Err(Win32SourceError::Unknown().into())
     }
 
     extern "C" fn callback(_self: *mut Win32Source, event: RawInputEvent) {
@@ -132,8 +133,11 @@ impl Source for Win32Source {
     let error_code = unsafe { detect_eventloop(self.handle, callback) };
 
     if error_code <= 0 {
-      panic!("Win32Source eventloop returned a negative error code");
+      error!("Win32Source eventloop returned a negative error code");
+      return Err(Win32SourceError::Unknown().into())
     }
+
+    Ok(())
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/espanso-inject/src/lib.rs b/espanso-inject/src/lib.rs
index a11b22e..508e12e 100644
--- a/espanso-inject/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-inject/src/lib.rs
@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ impl Default for InjectorCreationOptions {
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub fn get_injector(_options: InjectorOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
+pub fn get_injector(_options: InjectorCreationOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
   info!("using Win32Injector");
   Ok(Box::new(win32::Win32Injector::new()))
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-pub fn get_injector(_options: InjectorOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
+pub fn get_injector(_options: InjectorCreationOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
   info!("using MacInjector");
   Ok(Box::new(mac::MacInjector::new()))
 }
diff --git a/espanso-inject/src/win32/mod.rs b/espanso-inject/src/win32/mod.rs
index 6e04565..d6b0772 100644
--- a/espanso-inject/src/win32/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-inject/src/win32/mod.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use raw_keys::convert_key_to_vkey;
 use anyhow::Result;
 use thiserror::Error;
 
-use crate::{keys, Injector};
+use crate::{InjectionOptions, Injector, keys};
 
 #[allow(improper_ctypes)]
 #[link(name = "espansoinject", kind = "static")]
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ impl Win32Injector {
 }
 
 impl Injector for Win32Injector {
-  fn send_string(&self, string: &str) -> Result<()> {
+  fn send_string(&self, string: &str, _: InjectionOptions) -> Result<()> {
     let wide_string = widestring::WideCString::from_str(string)?;
     unsafe {
       inject_string(wide_string.as_ptr());
@@ -68,32 +68,32 @@ impl Injector for Win32Injector {
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn send_keys(&self, keys: &[keys::Key], delay: i32) -> Result<()> {
+  fn send_keys(&self, keys: &[keys::Key], options: InjectionOptions) -> Result<()> {
     let virtual_keys = Self::convert_to_vk_array(keys)?;
 
-    if delay == 0 {
+    if options.delay == 0 {
       unsafe {
         inject_separate_vkeys(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32);
       }
     } else {
       unsafe {
-        inject_separate_vkeys_with_delay(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32, delay);
+        inject_separate_vkeys_with_delay(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32, options.delay);
       }
     }
 
     Ok(())
   }
 
-  fn send_key_combination(&self, keys: &[keys::Key], delay: i32) -> Result<()> {
+  fn send_key_combination(&self, keys: &[keys::Key], options: InjectionOptions) -> Result<()> {
     let virtual_keys = Self::convert_to_vk_array(keys)?;
 
-    if delay == 0 {
+    if options.delay == 0 {
       unsafe {
         inject_vkeys_combination(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32);
       }
     } else {
       unsafe {
-        inject_vkeys_combination_with_delay(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32, delay);
+        inject_vkeys_combination_with_delay(virtual_keys.as_ptr(), virtual_keys.len() as i32, options.delay);
       }
     }
 
diff --git a/espanso-ipc/Cargo.toml b/espanso-ipc/Cargo.toml
index 13d8be3..9103412 100644
--- a/espanso-ipc/Cargo.toml
+++ b/espanso-ipc/Cargo.toml
@@ -13,5 +13,4 @@ serde_json = "1.0.62"
 crossbeam = "0.8.0"
 
 [target.'cfg(windows)'.dependencies]
-
-[target.'cfg(unix)'.dependencies]
\ No newline at end of file
+named_pipe = "0.4.1"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-ipc/src/lib.rs b/espanso-ipc/src/lib.rs
index caafddf..2d8099a 100644
--- a/espanso-ipc/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-ipc/src/lib.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,19 @@ pub fn client<Event: Serialize>(id: &str, parent_dir: &Path) -> Result<impl IPCC
   Ok(client)
 }
 
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn server<Event: Send + Sync + DeserializeOwned>(id: &str, _: &Path) -> Result<(impl IPCServer<Event>, Receiver<Event>)> {
+  let (sender, receiver) = unbounded();
+  let server = windows::WinIPCServer::new(id, sender)?;
+  Ok((server, receiver))
+}
+
+#[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
+pub fn client<Event: Serialize>(id: &str, _: &Path) -> Result<impl IPCClient<Event>> {
+  let client = windows::WinIPCClient::new(id)?;
+  Ok(client)
+}
+
 #[derive(Error, Debug)]
 pub enum IPCServerError {
   #[error("stream ended")]
@@ -78,6 +91,7 @@ mod tests {
       server.accept_one().unwrap();
     });
 
+    std::thread::sleep(std::time::Duration::from_secs(1));
     let client = client::<Event>("testespansoipc", &std::env::temp_dir()).unwrap();
     client.send(Event::Foo("hello".to_string())).unwrap();
     
diff --git a/espanso-ipc/src/windows.rs b/espanso-ipc/src/windows.rs
index 9d9eec3..78bb699 100644
--- a/espanso-ipc/src/windows.rs
+++ b/espanso-ipc/src/windows.rs
@@ -16,3 +16,104 @@
  * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
  * along with espanso.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
+
+use anyhow::Result;
+use crossbeam::channel::Sender;
+use log::{error, info};
+use named_pipe::{PipeClient, PipeOptions};
+use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Serialize};
+use std::{
+  io::{BufReader, Read, Write},
+};
+
+use crate::{IPCClient, IPCServer, IPCServerError};
+
+const CLIENT_TIMEOUT: u32 = 2000;
+
+pub struct WinIPCServer<Event> {
+  options: PipeOptions,
+  sender: Sender<Event>,
+}
+
+impl<Event> WinIPCServer<Event> {
+  pub fn new(id: &str, sender: Sender<Event>) -> Result<Self> {
+    let pipe_name = format!("\\\\.\\pipe\\{}", id);
+
+    let options = PipeOptions::new(&pipe_name);
+
+    info!(
+      "binded to named pipe: {}",
+      pipe_name
+    );
+
+    Ok(Self { options, sender })
+  }
+}
+
+impl<Event: Send + Sync + DeserializeOwned> IPCServer<Event> for WinIPCServer<Event> {
+  fn run(&self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    loop {
+      self.accept_one()?;
+    }
+  }
+
+  fn accept_one(&self) -> Result<()> {
+    let server = self.options.single()?;
+    let connection = server.wait();
+
+    match connection {
+      Ok(stream) => {
+        let mut json_str = String::new();
+        let mut buf_reader = BufReader::new(stream);
+        let result = buf_reader.read_to_string(&mut json_str);
+
+        match result {
+          Ok(_) => {
+            let event: Result<Event, serde_json::Error> = serde_json::from_str(&json_str);
+            match event {
+              Ok(event) => {
+                if self.sender.send(event).is_err() {
+                  return Err(IPCServerError::SendFailed().into());
+                }
+              }
+              Err(error) => {
+                error!("received malformed event from ipc stream: {}", error);
+              }
+            }
+          }
+          Err(error) => {
+            error!("error reading ipc stream: {}", error);
+          }
+        }
+      }
+      Err(err) => {
+        return Err(IPCServerError::StreamEnded(err).into());
+      }
+    };
+
+    Ok(())
+  }
+}
+
+pub struct WinIPCClient {
+  pipe_name: String,
+}
+
+impl WinIPCClient {
+  pub fn new(id: &str) -> Result<Self> {
+    let pipe_name = format!("\\\\.\\pipe\\{}", id);
+    Ok(Self { pipe_name })
+  }
+}
+
+impl<Event: Serialize> IPCClient<Event> for WinIPCClient {
+  fn send(&self, event: Event) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut stream = PipeClient::connect_ms(&self.pipe_name, CLIENT_TIMEOUT)?;
+
+    let json_event = serde_json::to_string(&event)?;
+    stream.write_all(json_event.as_bytes())?;
+
+    Ok(())
+  }
+}
+
diff --git a/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs b/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
index 3b7901f..8f5b1d0 100644
--- a/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/espanso-ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use icons::TrayIcon;
 use anyhow::Result;
+use thiserror::Error;
 
 pub mod event;
 pub mod icons;
@@ -22,8 +23,8 @@ pub trait UIRemote {
 
 pub type UIEventCallback = Box<dyn Fn(event::UIEvent)>;
 pub trait UIEventLoop {
-  fn initialize(&mut self);
-  fn run(&self, event_callback: UIEventCallback);
+  fn initialize(&mut self) -> Result<()>;
+  fn run(&self, event_callback: UIEventCallback) -> Result<()>;
 }
 
 pub struct UIOptions {
@@ -43,22 +44,33 @@ impl Default for UIOptions {
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "windows")]
-pub fn create_ui(_options: UIOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
-  // TODO: refactor
-  Ok(Box::new(win32::Win32Injector::new()))
+pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEventLoop>)> {
+  let (remote, eventloop) = win32::create(win32::Win32UIOptions {
+    show_icon: options.show_icon,
+    icon_paths: &options.icon_paths,
+    notification_icon_path: options.notification_icon_path.ok_or_else(|| UIError::MissingOption("notification icon".to_string()))?,
+  })?;
+  Ok((Box::new(remote), Box::new(eventloop)))
 }
 
 #[cfg(target_os = "macos")]
-pub fn create_ui(_options: UIOptions) -> Result<Box<dyn Injector>> {
-  // TODO: refactor
-  Ok(Box::new(mac::MacInjector::new()))
-}
-
-#[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
 pub fn create_ui(options: UIOptions) -> Result<(Box<dyn UIRemote>, Box<dyn UIEventLoop>)> {
-  // TODO: here we could avoid panicking and instead return a good result
   let (remote, eventloop) = linux::create(linux::LinuxUIOptions {
     notification_icon_path: options.notification_icon_path.expect("missing notification icon path")
   });
   Ok((Box::new(remote), Box::new(eventloop)))
+}
+
+#[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()))?,
+  });
+  Ok((Box::new(remote), Box::new(eventloop)))
+}
+
+#[derive(Error, Debug)]
+pub enum UIError {
+  #[error("missing required option for ui: `{0}`")]
+  MissingOption(String),
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/espanso-ui/src/win32/mod.rs b/espanso-ui/src/win32/mod.rs
index 8f9e0d9..d802427 100644
--- a/espanso-ui/src/win32/mod.rs
+++ b/espanso-ui/src/win32/mod.rs
@@ -32,8 +32,10 @@ use std::{
 use lazycell::LazyCell;
 use log::{error, trace};
 use widestring::WideCString;
+use anyhow::Result;
+use thiserror::Error;
 
-use crate::{event::UIEvent, icons::TrayIcon, menu::Menu};
+use crate::{UIEventCallback, UIEventLoop, UIRemote, event::UIEvent, icons::TrayIcon, menu::Menu};
 
 // IMPORTANT: if you change these, also edit the native.h file.
 const MAX_FILE_PATH: usize = 260;
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ pub struct Win32UIOptions<'a> {
   pub notification_icon_path: String,
 }
 
-pub fn create(options: Win32UIOptions) -> (Win32Remote, Win32EventLoop) {
+pub fn create(options: Win32UIOptions) -> Result<(Win32Remote, Win32EventLoop)> {
   let handle: Arc<AtomicPtr<c_void>> = Arc::new(AtomicPtr::new(std::ptr::null_mut()));
 
   // Validate icons
@@ -107,7 +109,7 @@ pub fn create(options: Win32UIOptions) -> (Win32Remote, Win32EventLoop) {
   );
   let remote = Win32Remote::new(handle, icon_indexes);
 
-  (remote, eventloop)
+  Ok((remote, eventloop))
 }
 
 pub struct Win32EventLoop {
@@ -118,7 +120,7 @@ pub struct Win32EventLoop {
   notification_icon_path: String,
 
   // Internal
-  _event_callback: LazyCell<Win32UIEventCallback>,
+  _event_callback: LazyCell<UIEventCallback>,
   _init_thread_id: LazyCell<ThreadId>,
 }
 
@@ -138,11 +140,14 @@ impl Win32EventLoop {
       _init_thread_id: LazyCell::new(),
     }
   }
+}
 
-  pub fn initialize(&mut self) {
+impl UIEventLoop for Win32EventLoop {
+  fn initialize(&mut self) -> Result<()> {
     let window_handle = self.handle.load(Ordering::Acquire);
     if !window_handle.is_null() {
-      panic!("Attempt to initialize Win32EventLoop on non-null window handle");
+      error!("Attempt to initialize Win32EventLoop on non-null window handle");
+      return Err(Win32UIError::InvalidHandle().into());
     }
 
     // Convert the icon paths to the raw representation
@@ -150,15 +155,13 @@ impl Win32EventLoop {
       [[0; MAX_FILE_PATH]; MAX_ICON_COUNT];
     for (i, icon_path) in icon_paths.iter_mut().enumerate().take(self.icons.len()) {
       let wide_path =
-        WideCString::from_str(&self.icons[i]).expect("Error while converting icon to wide string");
+        WideCString::from_str(&self.icons[i])?;
       let len = min(wide_path.len(), MAX_FILE_PATH - 1);
       icon_path[0..len].clone_from_slice(&wide_path.as_slice()[..len]);
-      // TODO: test overflow, correct case
     }
 
     let wide_notification_icon_path =
-      widestring::WideCString::from_str(&self.notification_icon_path)
-        .expect("Error while converting notification icon to wide string");
+      widestring::WideCString::from_str(&self.notification_icon_path)?;
     let mut wide_notification_icon_path_buffer: [u16; MAX_FILE_PATH] = [0; MAX_FILE_PATH];
     wide_notification_icon_path_buffer[..wide_notification_icon_path.as_slice().len()]
       .clone_from_slice(wide_notification_icon_path.as_slice());
@@ -174,11 +177,11 @@ impl Win32EventLoop {
     let handle = unsafe { ui_initialize(self as *const Win32EventLoop, options, &mut error_code) };
 
     if handle.is_null() {
-      match error_code {
-        -1 => panic!("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, error registering window class"),
-        -2 => panic!("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, error creating window"),
-        -3 => panic!("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, initializing notifications"),
-        _ => panic!("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, unknown error"),
+      return match error_code {
+        -1 => Err(Win32UIError::EventLoopInitError("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, error registering window class".to_string()).into()),
+        -2 => Err(Win32UIError::EventLoopInitError("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, error creating window".to_string()).into()),
+        -3 => Err(Win32UIError::EventLoopInitError("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, initializing notifications".to_string()).into()),
+        _ => Err(Win32UIError::EventLoopInitError("Unable to initialize Win32EventLoop, unknown error".to_string()).into()),
       }
     }
 
@@ -189,25 +192,27 @@ impl Win32EventLoop {
       ._init_thread_id
       .fill(std::thread::current().id())
       .expect("Unable to set initialization thread id");
+    
+    Ok(())
   }
 
-  pub fn run(&self, event_callback: Win32UIEventCallback) {
+  fn run(&self, event_callback: UIEventCallback) -> Result<()> {
     // Make sure the run() method is called in the same thread as initialize()
     if let Some(init_id) = self._init_thread_id.borrow() {
       if init_id != &std::thread::current().id() {
         panic!("Win32EventLoop run() and initialize() methods should be called in the same thread");
-        // TODO: test
       }
     }
 
     let window_handle = self.handle.load(Ordering::Acquire);
     if window_handle.is_null() {
-      panic!("Attempt to run Win32EventLoop on a null window handle");
-      // TODO: test
+      error!("Attempt to run Win32EventLoop on a null window handle");
+      return Err(Win32UIError::InvalidHandle().into())
     }
 
     if self._event_callback.fill(event_callback).is_err() {
-      panic!("Unable to set Win32EventLoop callback");
+      error!("Unable to set Win32EventLoop callback");
+      return Err(Win32UIError::InternalError().into())
     }
 
     extern "C" fn callback(_self: *mut Win32EventLoop, event: RawUIEvent) {
@@ -224,8 +229,11 @@ impl Win32EventLoop {
     let error_code = unsafe { ui_eventloop(window_handle, callback) };
 
     if error_code <= 0 {
-      panic!("Win32EventLoop exited with <= 0 code")
+      error!("Win32EventLoop exited with <= 0 code");
+      return Err(Win32UIError::InternalError().into())
     }
+
+    Ok(())
   }
 }
 
@@ -262,8 +270,10 @@ impl Win32Remote {
       icon_indexes,
     }
   }
+}
 
-  pub fn update_tray_icon(&self, icon: TrayIcon) {
+impl UIRemote for Win32Remote {
+  fn update_tray_icon(&self, icon: TrayIcon) {
     let handle = self.handle.load(Ordering::Acquire);
     if handle.is_null() {
       error!("Unable to update tray icon, pointer is null");
@@ -277,7 +287,7 @@ impl Win32Remote {
     }
   }
 
-  pub fn show_notification(&self, message: &str) {
+  fn show_notification(&self, message: &str) {
     let handle = self.handle.load(Ordering::Acquire);
     if handle.is_null() {
       error!("Unable to show notification, pointer is null");
@@ -296,7 +306,7 @@ impl Win32Remote {
     }
   }
 
-  pub fn show_context_menu(&self, menu: &Menu) {
+  fn show_context_menu(&self, menu: &Menu) {
     let handle = self.handle.load(Ordering::Acquire);
     if handle.is_null() {
       error!("Unable to show context menu, pointer is null");
@@ -338,6 +348,18 @@ impl From<RawUIEvent> for Option<UIEvent> {
   }
 }
 
+#[derive(Error, Debug)]
+pub enum Win32UIError {
+  #[error("invalid handle")]
+  InvalidHandle(),
+
+  #[error("event loop initialization failed: `{0}`")]
+  EventLoopInitError(String),
+
+  #[error("internal error")]
+  InternalError(),
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
   use super::*;
diff --git a/espanso/src/main.rs b/espanso/src/main.rs
index dd9efa7..37157bf 100644
--- a/espanso/src/main.rs
+++ b/espanso/src/main.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ fn main() {
     ..Default::default()
   }).unwrap();
 
-  eventloop.initialize();
+  eventloop.initialize().unwrap();
 
   let handle = std::thread::spawn(move || {
     let injector = get_injector(Default::default()).unwrap();
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ fn main() {
           }
         }
       }
-    }));
+    })).unwrap();
   });
 
   eventloop.run(Box::new(move |event| {