diff --git a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
index 00908576..6990c896 100644
--- a/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
+++ b/lua/nvim-tree/actions/node/open-file.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 -- Copyright 2019 Yazdani Kiyan under MIT License
 local lib = require "nvim-tree.lib"
+local notify = require "nvim-tree.notify"
 local utils = require "nvim-tree.utils"
 local view = require "nvim-tree.view"
 
@@ -60,6 +61,17 @@ local function pick_win_id()
     return selectable[1]
   end
 
+  if #M.window_picker.chars < #selectable then
+    notify.error(
+      string.format(
+        "More windows (%d) than actions.open_file.window_picker.chars (%d) - please add more.",
+        #selectable,
+        #M.window_picker.chars
+      )
+    )
+    return nil
+  end
+
   local i = 1
   local win_opts = {}
   local win_map = {}