diff --git a/kitty/dnd.c b/kitty/dnd.c
index 1794671d6..42c22e3e1 100644
--- a/kitty/dnd.c
+++ b/kitty/dnd.c
@@ -668,7 +668,13 @@ do_drop_request_data(Window *w, int32_t idx) {
     }
     const char *mime = w->drop.offerred_mimes[idx - 1];
     w->drop.getting_data_for_mime = strdup(mime);
-    if (w->drop.getting_data_for_mime) request_drop_data(osw, w->id, mime);
+    if (w->drop.getting_data_for_mime) {
+        int err = request_drop_data(osw, w->id, mime);
+        if (err) {
+            drop_send_error(w, err, "drop data request from OS failed");
+            return true;
+        }
+    }
     return false; /* async: completion via drop_dispatch_data */
 }
 
diff --git a/kitty/glfw.c b/kitty/glfw.c
index ba19ab58e..ecb4f11d1 100644
--- a/kitty/glfw.c
+++ b/kitty/glfw.c
@@ -776,10 +776,11 @@ register_mimes_for_drop(OSWindow *w, const char **mimes, size_t sz) {
 #endif
 }
 
-void
+int
 request_drop_data(OSWindow *w, id_type wid, const char* mime) {
     global_state.drop_dest.client_window_data_request = wid;
-    if (w->handle) glfwRequestDropData(w->handle, mime);
+    if (w->handle) return glfwRequestDropData(w->handle, mime);
+    return ENOENT;
 }
 
 static void
diff --git a/kitty/state.h b/kitty/state.h
index c50f11f2a..555b31c9d 100644
--- a/kitty/state.h
+++ b/kitty/state.h
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ void take_screenshot_of_rectangular_region(OSWindow *os_window, Region region, u
 bool current_framebuffer_is_ok(void);
 void request_drop_status_update(OSWindow *osw);
 void register_mimes_for_drop(OSWindow *w, const char **mimes, size_t sz);
-void request_drop_data(OSWindow *w, id_type wid, const char* mime);
+int request_drop_data(OSWindow *w, id_type wid, const char* mime);
 void cancel_current_drag_source(void);
 bool change_drag_image(int idx);
 int start_window_drag(Window *w, bool in_test_mode);