diff --git a/tests/test_tray_actions.py b/tests/test_tray_actions.py
index 3907341..199bb34 100644
--- a/tests/test_tray_actions.py
+++ b/tests/test_tray_actions.py
@@ -71,6 +71,19 @@ class TestActions(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(runner.calls), 1)
         self.assertEqual(opened, ["https://127.0.0.1:8787/"])
 
+    def test_open_dashboard_returns_early_when_start_fails(self):
+        # is-active -> inactive, then start -> failure
+        runner = _Recorder([_proc(out="inactive"),
+                           _proc(rc=1, err="Access denied")])
+        opened = []
+        res = actions.open_dashboard(Config(), runner, opener=opened.append)
+        self.assertFalse(res.ok)
+        self.assertEqual(runner.calls[0],
+                         ["systemctl", "is-active", "enodia-sentinel-web.service"])
+        self.assertEqual(runner.calls[1],
+                         ["systemctl", "start", "enodia-sentinel-web.service"])
+        self.assertEqual(opened, [])
+
     def test_run_check_counts_findings(self):
         runner = _Recorder([_proc(out=json.dumps([{"signature": "rsh"},
                                                    {"signature": "suid"}]))])