diff --git a/data/core/commands/core.lua b/data/core/commands/core.lua
index 16b371f3..3242e2ef 100644
--- a/data/core/commands/core.lua
+++ b/data/core/commands/core.lua
@@ -141,14 +141,9 @@ command.add(nil, {
   end,
 
   ["core:open-project-module"] = function()
-    local filename = ".lite_project.lua"
-    if system.get_file_info(filename) then
-      core.root_view:open_doc(core.open_doc(filename))
-    else
-      local doc = core.open_doc()
-      core.root_view:open_doc(doc)
-      doc:save(filename)
-    end
+    local doc = core.open_doc(".lite_project.lua")
+    core.root_view:open_doc(doc)
+    doc:save()
   end,
 
   ["core:change-project-folder"] = function()
diff --git a/data/core/doc/init.lua b/data/core/doc/init.lua
index 06cde9f9..7b97db35 100644
--- a/data/core/doc/init.lua
+++ b/data/core/doc/init.lua
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ function Doc:save(filename, abs_filename)
     assert(self.filename, "no filename set to default to")
     filename = self.filename
     abs_filename = self.abs_filename
+  else
+    assert(self.filename or abs_filename, "calling save on unnamed doc without absolute path")
   end
   local fp = assert( io.open(filename, "wb") )
   for _, line in ipairs(self.lines) do