diff --git a/crates/zed/src/main.rs b/crates/zed/src/main.rs
index f429c32df79b6a1a62a82832e69d412800544e8a..cfa339afc08faeac8b050ef3d3abbe627b19dadf 100644
--- a/crates/zed/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/zed/src/main.rs
@@ -1398,7 +1398,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn restore_or_create_workspace(
                         .update(cx, |multi_workspace, _, cx| {
                             multi_workspace.workspace().update(cx, |workspace, cx| {
                                 workspace.show_toast(
-                                    Toast::new(NotificationId::unique::<()>(), message),
+                                    Toast::new(NotificationId::unique::<()>(), message.clone()),
                                     cx,
                                 )
                             });
@@ -1410,11 +1410,23 @@ pub(crate) async fn restore_or_create_workspace(
             });
 
             // If we couldn't show a toast (no windows opened successfully),
-            // we've already logged the errors above, so the user can check logs
+            // open a fallback empty workspace and show the error there
             if !toast_shown {
-                log::error!(
-                    "Failed to show notification for window restoration errors, because no workspace windows were available."
-                );
+                log::error!("All workspace restorations failed. Opening fallback empty workspace.");
+                cx.update(|cx| {
+                    workspace::open_new(
+                        Default::default(),
+                        app_state.clone(),
+                        cx,
+                        |workspace, _window, cx| {
+                            workspace.show_toast(
+                                Toast::new(NotificationId::unique::<()>(), message),
+                                cx,
+                            );
+                        },
+                    )
+                })
+                .await?;
             }
         }
     } else if matches!(KEY_VALUE_STORE.read_kvp(FIRST_OPEN), Ok(None)) {