diff --git a/src/ProjectFileIO.cpp b/src/ProjectFileIO.cpp
index 226886a61..de4f17c4e 100644
--- a/src/ProjectFileIO.cpp
+++ b/src/ProjectFileIO.cpp
@@ -326,6 +326,11 @@ bool ProjectFileIO::OpenConnection(FilePath fileName /* = {}  */)
       }
    }
 
+   if (FileNames::FATFilesystemDenied(fileName, XO("Project resides on FAT formatted drive.")))
+   {
+      return false;
+   }
+
    // Pass weak_ptr to project into DBConnection constructor
    curConn = std::make_unique<DBConnection>(
       mProject.shared_from_this(), mpErrors, [this]{ OnCheckpointFailure(); } );