diff --git a/src/core/browser.test.ts b/src/core/browser.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b22e06a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/browser.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { openGenerationInBrowser } from './browser.js'
+
+describe('openGenerationInBrowser', () => {
+  it('opens the generation URL and returns null on success', async () => {
+    const openFn = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined)
+    const result = await openGenerationInBrowser('gen_123', openFn)
+
+    expect(openFn).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    expect(openFn).toHaveBeenCalledWith('https://www.pixelmuse.studio/g/gen_123')
+    expect(result).toBeNull()
+  })
+
+  it('returns the error message when open fails', async () => {
+    const openFn = vi.fn().mockRejectedValue(new Error('No browser available'))
+    const result = await openGenerationInBrowser('gen_123', openFn)
+
+    expect(result).toBe('No browser available')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/core/browser.ts b/src/core/browser.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e74fd49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/browser.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import open from 'open'
+
+type OpenFunction = (target: string) => Promise<unknown> | unknown
+
+export async function openGenerationInBrowser(
+  generationId: string,
+  openFn: OpenFunction = open,
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const generationUrl = `https://www.pixelmuse.studio/g/${generationId}`
+
+  try {
+    await Promise.resolve(openFn(generationUrl))
+    return null
+  } catch (error: unknown) {
+    if (error instanceof Error && error.message) {
+      return error.message
+    }
+    return 'Unknown error'
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/core/index.ts b/src/core/index.ts
index c1d5d55..133e8c5 100644
--- a/src/core/index.ts
+++ b/src/core/index.ts
@@ -38,3 +38,4 @@ export { timeAgo } from './utils.js'
 export { initiateDeviceAuth, pollForToken } from './device-auth.js'
 export { detectEditors, configureMcp, type EditorInfo } from './mcp-config.js'
 export { buildMacClipboardArgs } from './clipboard.js'
+export { openGenerationInBrowser } from './browser.js'
diff --git a/src/screens/GalleryDetail.tsx b/src/screens/GalleryDetail.tsx
index 5953137..dc9df66 100644
--- a/src/screens/GalleryDetail.tsx
+++ b/src/screens/GalleryDetail.tsx
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import React, { useState, useEffect } from 'react'
 import { Box, Text, useInput } from 'ink'
 import { ConfirmInput, Spinner } from '@inkjs/ui'
-import open from 'open'
 import type { PixelmuseClient } from '../core/client.js'
 import type { Generation } from '../core/types.js'
 import { imageToBuffer, autoSave } from '../core/image.js'
+import { openGenerationInBrowser } from '../core/browser.js'
 import ImagePreview from '../components/ImagePreview.js'
 
 interface Props {
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ export default function GalleryDetail({ client, generationId, back }: Props) {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true)
   const [confirming, setConfirming] = useState(false)
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+  const [actionError, setActionError] = useState<string | null>(null)
 
   useEffect(() => {
     let cancelled = false
@@ -49,7 +50,12 @@ export default function GalleryDetail({ client, generationId, back }: Props) {
     if (confirming) return
     if (input === 'd') setConfirming(true)
     if (input === 'o' && generation) {
-      open(`https://www.pixelmuse.studio/g/${generation.id}`)
+      setActionError(null)
+      void openGenerationInBrowser(generation.id).then((openError) => {
+        if (openError) {
+          setActionError(`Could not open browser: ${openError}`)
+        }
+      })
     }
   })
 
@@ -113,6 +119,7 @@ export default function GalleryDetail({ client, generationId, back }: Props) {
       ) : (
         <Text color="gray">[o] open in browser | [d] delete | esc back</Text>
       )}
+      {actionError && <Text color="yellow">{actionError}</Text>}
     </Box>
   )
 }