diff --git a/src/gui/welcomescreen.cpp b/src/gui/welcomescreen.cpp
--- a/src/gui/welcomescreen.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/welcomescreen.cpp
@@ -143,29 +143,49 @@
 
 void WelcomeScreen::startEmptyGame() {
 	GameVariant* variant = selectedVariant();
-	if(!variant) return;
+	if(!variant) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Please select a puzzle variant."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 	
 	Game game = variant->startEmpty();
-	if (! game.isValid()) return;
+	if (! game.isValid()) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Unable to create an empty puzzle of the chosen variant; please try another."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 	
 	emit newGameStarted(game, variant);
 }
 
 void WelcomeScreen::playVariant() {
 	return;		// Disable old game-creation code.
 	GameVariant* variant = selectedVariant();
-	if(!variant) return;
+	if(!variant) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Please select a puzzle variant."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 	
 	Game game = variant->createGame(difficulty(), 0);
+	if(!game.isValid()) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Unable to start a puzzle of the chosen variant; please try another."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 
 	emit newGameStarted(game, variant);
 }
 
 void WelcomeScreen::generatePuzzle() {
 	GameVariant* variant = selectedVariant();
-	if(!variant) return;
+	if(!variant) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Please select a puzzle variant."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 
 	Game game = variant->createGame(difficulty(), symmetry());
+	if(!game.isValid()) {
+		KMessageBox::sorry(this, i18n("Unable to generate a puzzle of the chosen variant; please try another."), i18n("Unable to start puzzle"));
+		return;
+	}
 
 	// Save the selected puzzle configuration.
 	QModelIndex index = gameListWidget->currentIndex();