diff --git a/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm b/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
index f891ef4099a..f97c18a1414 100644
--- a/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
+++ b/code/modules/modular_computers/computers/item/computer_ui.dm
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@
 	if (!ui)
 		ui = new(user, src, "NtosMain")
 		ui.set_autoupdate(TRUE)
-		ui.open()
-		ui.send_asset(get_asset_datum(/datum/asset/simple/headers))
+		if(ui.open())
+			ui.send_asset(get_asset_datum(/datum/asset/simple/headers))
 
 
 /obj/item/modular_computer/ui_data(mob/user)
diff --git a/code/modules/modular_computers/file_system/program.dm b/code/modules/modular_computers/file_system/program.dm
index afdd9a3db47..14898bcb6af 100644
--- a/code/modules/modular_computers/file_system/program.dm
+++ b/code/modules/modular_computers/file_system/program.dm
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@
 	ui = SStgui.try_update_ui(user, src, ui)
 	if(!ui && tgui_id)
 		ui = new(user, src, tgui_id, filedesc)
-		ui.open()
-		ui.send_asset(get_asset_datum(/datum/asset/simple/headers))
+		if(ui.open())
+			ui.send_asset(get_asset_datum(/datum/asset/simple/headers))
 
 // CONVENTIONS, READ THIS WHEN CREATING NEW PROGRAM AND OVERRIDING THIS PROC:
 // Topic calls are automagically forwarded from NanoModule this program contains.
diff --git a/code/modules/tgui/tgui.dm b/code/modules/tgui/tgui.dm
index cd425f6f5e4..7322c4179bb 100644
--- a/code/modules/tgui/tgui.dm
+++ b/code/modules/tgui/tgui.dm
@@ -67,18 +67,20 @@
  * public
  *
  * Open this UI (and initialize it with data).
+ *
+ * return bool - TRUE if a new pooled window is opened, FALSE in all other situations including if a new pooled window didn't open because one already exists.
  */
 /datum/tgui/proc/open()
 	if(!user.client)
-		return null
+		return FALSE
 	if(window)
-		return null
+		return FALSE
 	process_status()
 	if(status < UI_UPDATE)
-		return null
+		return FALSE
 	window = SStgui.request_pooled_window(user)
 	if(!window)
-		return null
+		return FALSE
 	opened_at = world.time
 	window.acquire_lock(src)
 	if(!window.is_ready())
@@ -101,6 +103,8 @@
 		with_static_data = TRUE))
 	SStgui.on_open(src)
 
+	return TRUE
+
 /**
  * public
  *
@@ -156,7 +160,7 @@
  */
 /datum/tgui/proc/send_asset(datum/asset/asset)
 	if(!window)
-		CRASH("send_asset() can only be called after open().")
+		CRASH("send_asset() was called either without calling open() first or when open() did not return TRUE.")
 	return window.send_asset(asset)
 
 /**