diff --git a/src/ui/window.rs b/src/ui/window.rs
index 2ee2278..1dac4f2 100644
--- a/src/ui/window.rs
+++ b/src/ui/window.rs
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ mod imp {
     use zbus::object_server::InterfaceRef;
 
     #[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone)]
-    enum State {
+    pub(super) enum State {
         Idle,
         FileLoading,
-        FileLoaded,
+        FileLoaded, // internal?
         Active,
-        FileEnded,
+        FileEnded, // internal?
         Seeking,
     }
 
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ mod imp {
     #[template(resource = "/eu/callcc/audrey/window.ui")]
     #[properties(wrapper_type = super::Window)]
     pub struct Window {
-        state: Cell<State>,
+        pub(super) state: Cell<State>,
 
         #[template_child]
         pub(super) playbar: TemplateChild<crate::ui::Playbar>,
@@ -760,17 +760,23 @@ impl Window {
     }
 
     pub fn seek(&self, new_position: f64) {
-        match self
-            .imp()
-            .mpv
-            .command(["seek", &new_position.to_string(), "absolute", "exact"])
-        {
-            Ok(()) => {}
-            Err(err) => {
-                event!(Level::INFO, "queuing seek to {new_position}: {err}");
+        use imp::State;
+
+        match self.imp().state.get() {
+            State::Active | State::Seeking => {
+                self.imp()
+                    .mpv
+                    .command(["seek", &new_position.to_string(), "absolute", "exact"])
+                    .unwrap();
+            }
+
+            State::FileLoading => {
+                event!(Level::INFO, "queuing seek to {new_position}");
                 self.imp().queued_seek.set(Some(new_position));
                 self.notify("time-pos");
             }
+
+            other => panic!("can not seek when in state {other:?}"),
         }
     }