diff --git a/src/shell/layout/mod.rs b/src/shell/layout/mod.rs
index 5bfc6c1e..ed97a62a 100644
--- a/src/shell/layout/mod.rs
+++ b/src/shell/layout/mod.rs
@@ -55,14 +55,14 @@ pub fn is_dialog(window: &CosmicSurface) -> bool {
     false
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
 pub struct TilingExceptions {
     app_ids: RegexSet,
     titles: RegexSet,
 }
 
 impl TilingExceptions {
-    pub fn new(config: &Config) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(config: &Config) -> Result<Self, regex::Error> {
         let mut app_ids = Vec::new();
         let mut titles = Vec::new();
 
@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ impl TilingExceptions {
             }
         }
 
-        Self {
-            app_ids: RegexSet::new(app_ids).unwrap(),
-            titles: RegexSet::new(titles).unwrap(),
-        }
+        Ok(Self {
+            app_ids: RegexSet::new(app_ids)?,
+            titles: RegexSet::new(titles)?,
+        })
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/shell/mod.rs b/src/shell/mod.rs
index 122cbe92..1b4c8b09 100644
--- a/src/shell/mod.rs
+++ b/src/shell/mod.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use std::{
     sync::atomic::Ordering,
     time::{Duration, Instant},
 };
+use tracing::error;
 use wayland_backend::server::ClientId;
 
 use crate::wayland::protocols::workspace::WorkspaceCapabilities;
@@ -1235,6 +1236,11 @@ impl Shell {
     pub fn new(config: &Config) -> Self {
         let theme = cosmic::theme::system_preference();
 
+        let tiling_exceptions = layout::TilingExceptions::new(config).unwrap_or_else(|e| {
+            error!(?e, "Could not load tiling exceptions, using default");
+            layout::TilingExceptions::default()
+        });
+
         Shell {
             workspaces: Workspaces::new(config, theme.clone()),
             seats: Seats::new(),
@@ -1252,7 +1258,7 @@ impl Shell {
             resize_mode: ResizeMode::None,
             resize_state: None,
             resize_indicator: None,
-            tiling_exceptions: layout::TilingExceptions::new(config),
+            tiling_exceptions,
 
             #[cfg(feature = "debug")]
             debug_active: false,