diff --git a/client/src/main/java/ctbrec/ui/tabs/RecordingsTab.java b/client/src/main/java/ctbrec/ui/tabs/RecordingsTab.java
index 4f18c6ca..d0dcb5ab 100644
--- a/client/src/main/java/ctbrec/ui/tabs/RecordingsTab.java
+++ b/client/src/main/java/ctbrec/ui/tabs/RecordingsTab.java
@@ -546,7 +546,10 @@ public class RecordingsTab extends Tab implements TabSelectionListener {
     }
 
     private void jumpToNextModel(KeyCode code) {
-        if (!table.getItems().isEmpty() && (code.isLetterKey() || code.isDigitKey())) {
+        try {
+            ensureTableIsNotEmpty();
+            ensureKeyCodeIsLetterOrDigit(code);
+
             // determine where to start looking for the next model
             int startAt = 0;
             if (table.getSelectionModel().getSelectedIndex() >= 0) {
@@ -571,6 +574,20 @@ public class RecordingsTab extends Tab implements TabSelectionListener {
                     i = 0;
                 }
             } while (i != startAt);
+        } catch (IllegalStateException | IllegalArgumentException e) {
+            // GUI was not in the state to process the user input
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ensureKeyCodeIsLetterOrDigit(KeyCode code) {
+        if (!(code.isLetterKey() || code.isDigitKey())) {
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException("keycode not allowed");
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void ensureTableIsNotEmpty() {
+        if (table.getItems().isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("table is empty");
         }
     }