diff --git a/fstree/fs.go b/fstree/fs.go
index 1f33198..488d827 100644
--- a/fstree/fs.go
+++ b/fstree/fs.go
@@ -93,41 +93,13 @@ func createFolder(path string) error {
 	return os.Mkdir(path, 0755)
 }
 
-func deleteFile(path string) error {
+func deletePath(path string) error {
 	if path == "" {
-		return errors.New("file path cannot be empty")
+		return errors.New("path cannot be empty")
 	}
 
-	info, err := os.Stat(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			return errors.New("file does not exist")
-		}
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if info.IsDir() {
-		return errors.New("path is a directory, not a file")
-	}
-
-	return os.Remove(path)
-}
-
-func deleteFolder(path string) error {
-	if path == "" {
-		return errors.New("folder path cannot be empty")
-	}
-
-	info, err := os.Stat(path)
-	if err != nil {
-		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-			return errors.New("folder does not exist")
-		}
-		return err
-	}
-
-	if !info.IsDir() {
-		return errors.New("path is a file, not a directory")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return errors.New("path does not exist")
 	}
 
 	return os.RemoveAll(path)
diff --git a/fstree/fstree.go b/fstree/fstree.go
index 8ffd56c..6ad805e 100644
--- a/fstree/fstree.go
+++ b/fstree/fstree.go
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ type FsTree struct {
 	lines        map[int]*FsNode // flattened view of nodes for easy line access, map so that I can handle blank padding
 	selectedNode *FsNode
 	hoveredNode  *FsNode
+	errMsg       string
 }
 
 // ==================== Bubble Tea Interface Implementation ====================
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ func (t *FsTree) Init() tea.Cmd {
 func (t *FsTree) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	switch m := msg.(type) {
 	case tea.KeyMsg:
+		t.errMsg = ""
 		switch m.String() {
 		case "up", "k":
 			_ = t.MoveUp()
@@ -69,16 +71,29 @@ func (t *FsTree) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		case "enter", " ":
 			_ = t.ToggleSelectedExpand()
 		case "n": // new file
-			_ = t.CreateNode(t.selectedNode, "new_file.txt", FileNode)
+			err := t.CreateNode(t.selectedNode, "new_file.txt", FileNode)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.errMsg = err.Error()
+			}
 		case "N": // new folder
-			_ = t.CreateNode(t.selectedNode, "new_folder", FolderNode)
+			err := t.CreateNode(t.selectedNode, "new_folder", FolderNode)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.errMsg = err.Error()
+			}
 		case "C": // new root node
-			_ = t.CreateNode(t.root, "new_root_folder", FolderNode)
+			err := t.CreateNode(t.root, "new_root_folder", FolderNode)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.errMsg = err.Error()
+			}
 		case "d", "delete": // delete node
-			_ = t.DeleteNode(t.selectedNode)
+			err := t.DeleteNode(t.selectedNode)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.errMsg = err.Error()
+			}
 		}
 
 	case tea.MouseMsg:
+		t.errMsg = ""
 		t.hoveredNode = t.lines[m.Y] // hover
 
 		// click
@@ -96,6 +111,10 @@ func (t *FsTree) Update(msg tea.Msg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 }
 
 func (t *FsTree) View() string {
+	if t.errMsg != "" {
+		return t.errMsg
+	}
+
 	builder := &strings.Builder{}
 	t.renderNode(t.root, 0, builder)
 	return builder.String()
@@ -131,6 +150,11 @@ func (t *FsTree) DeleteNode(node *FsNode) error {
 		return errors.New("node to delete must have a parent")
 	}
 
+	// materialise
+	if err := deletePath(node.path); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	t.selectedNode = node.prev // cannot be next as subfolder/file deletion
 	parent.children = utils.RemoveFromSlice(parent.children, node)
 
@@ -303,6 +327,19 @@ func (t *FsTree) CreateNode(folder *FsNode, name string, nodeType FsNodeType) er
 	}
 
 	path := filepath.Join(folder.path, name)
+	// materialise it first
+	if nodeType == FileNode {
+		err := createFile(path, []byte{})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	} else if nodeType == FolderNode {
+		err := createFolder(path)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
 	expanded := false
 	if nodeType == FolderNode {
 		expanded = true