diff --git a/src/app/project_runner.go b/src/app/project_runner.go
index a7ec1e8..3950db3 100644
--- a/src/app/project_runner.go
+++ b/src/app/project_runner.go
@@ -917,8 +917,9 @@ func (p *ProjectRunner) UpdateProject(project *types.Project) (map[string]string
 
 func (p *ProjectRunner) ReloadProject() (map[string]string, error) {
 	opts := &loader.LoaderOptions{
-		FileNames:    p.project.FileNames,
-		EnvFileNames: p.project.EnvFileNames,
+		FileNames:        p.project.FileNames,
+		EnvFileNames:     p.project.EnvFileNames,
+		IsInternalLoader: true,
 	}
 	opts.WithTuiDisabled(p.disableDotenv)
 	opts.WithTuiDisabled(p.isTuiOn)
diff --git a/src/loader/loader.go b/src/loader/loader.go
index f862347..a1ba83e 100644
--- a/src/loader/loader.go
+++ b/src/loader/loader.go
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ func Load(opts *LoaderOptions) (*types.Project, error) {
 	}
 
 	for _, file := range opts.FileNames {
-		p := loadProjectFromFile(file, opts.disableDotenv, opts.EnvFileNames)
+		p, err := loadProjectFromFile(file, opts)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		opts.projects = append(opts.projects, p)
 	}
 	mergedProject, err := merge(opts)
@@ -79,7 +82,7 @@ func admitProcesses(opts *LoaderOptions, p *types.Project) *types.Project {
 	return p
 }
 
-func loadProjectFromFile(inputFile string, disableDotEnv bool, envFileNames []string) *types.Project {
+func loadProjectFromFile(inputFile string, opts *LoaderOptions) (*types.Project, error) {
 	yamlFile, err := os.ReadFile(inputFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
@@ -88,9 +91,9 @@ func loadProjectFromFile(inputFile string, disableDotEnv bool, envFileNames []st
 		log.Fatal().Err(err).Msgf("Failed to read %s", inputFile)
 	}
 
-	if !disableDotEnv {
+	if !opts.disableDotenv {
 		// .env is optional we don't care if it errors
-		_ = godotenv.Load(envFileNames...)
+		_ = godotenv.Load(opts.EnvFileNames...)
 	}
 
 	const envEscaped = "##PC_ENV_ESCAPED##"
@@ -104,20 +107,23 @@ func loadProjectFromFile(inputFile string, disableDotEnv bool, envFileNames []st
 	}
 	err = yaml.Unmarshal([]byte(temp), project)
 	if err != nil {
+		if opts.IsInternalLoader {
+			return nil, err
+		}
 		log.Fatal().Err(err).Msgf("Failed to parse %s", inputFile)
 	}
 	if project.DisableEnvExpansion {
 		err = yaml.Unmarshal(yamlFile, project)
 		if err != nil {
+			if opts.IsInternalLoader {
+				return nil, err
+			}
 			log.Fatal().Err(err).Msgf("Failed to parse %s", inputFile)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatal().Err(err).Msgf("Failed to validate %s", inputFile)
-	}
 	log.Info().Msgf("Loaded project from %s", inputFile)
-	return project
+	return project, nil
 }
 
 func findFiles(names []string, pwd string) []string {
diff --git a/src/loader/loader_options.go b/src/loader/loader_options.go
index 442808b..23ea6d6 100644
--- a/src/loader/loader_options.go
+++ b/src/loader/loader_options.go
@@ -8,13 +8,14 @@ import (
 )
 
 type LoaderOptions struct {
-	workingDir    string
-	FileNames     []string
-	EnvFileNames  []string
-	projects      []*types.Project
-	admitters     []admitter.Admitter
-	disableDotenv bool
-	isTuiDisabled bool
+	workingDir       string
+	FileNames        []string
+	EnvFileNames     []string
+	IsInternalLoader bool
+	projects         []*types.Project
+	admitters        []admitter.Admitter
+	disableDotenv    bool
+	isTuiDisabled    bool
 }
 
 func (o *LoaderOptions) AddAdmitter(adm ...admitter.Admitter) {