diff --git a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
index 382a2eb30..810278c7a 100644
--- a/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/workspace-spec.coffee
@@ -287,16 +287,14 @@ describe "Workspace", ->
             expect(notification.getMessage()).toContain '< 2MB'
 
       describe "when a file does not exist", ->
-        it "creates a notification", ->
+        it "creates an empty buffer for the specified path", ->
           waitsForPromise ->
             workspace.open('not-a-file.md')
 
           runs ->
-            expect(notificationSpy).toHaveBeenCalled()
-            notification = notificationSpy.mostRecentCall.args[0]
-            expect(notification.getType()).toBe 'warning'
-            expect(notification.getMessage()).toContain 'No such file'
-            expect(notification.getMessage()).toContain 'not-a-file.md'
+            editor = workspace.getActiveTextEditor()
+            expect(notificationSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+            expect(editor.getPath()).toContain 'not-a-file.md'
 
       describe "when the user does not have access to the file", ->
         beforeEach ->
diff --git a/src/project.coffee b/src/project.coffee
index 7274c94f2..0c2496ca6 100644
--- a/src/project.coffee
+++ b/src/project.coffee
@@ -218,9 +218,12 @@ class Project extends Model
     filePath = @resolvePath(filePath)
 
     if filePath?
-      # Make sure we have permissions
-      fileDescriptor = fs.openSync(filePath, 'r+')
-      fs.closeSync(fileDescriptor)
+      try
+        fileDescriptor = fs.openSync(filePath, 'r+')
+        fs.closeSync(fileDescriptor)
+      catch error
+        # allow ENOENT errors to create an editor for paths that dont exist
+        throw error unless error.code is 'ENOENT'
 
     @bufferForPath(filePath).then (buffer) =>
       @buildEditorForBuffer(buffer, options)
diff --git a/src/workspace.coffee b/src/workspace.coffee
index 4d4263820..60b22f303 100644
--- a/src/workspace.coffee
+++ b/src/workspace.coffee
@@ -451,14 +451,13 @@ class Workspace extends Model
     try
       item ?= atom.project.open(uri, options)
     catch error
-      if error.code is 'EFILETOOLARGE'
-        atom.notifications.addWarning("#{error.message} Large file support is being tracked at [atom/atom#307](https://github.com/atom/atom/issues/307).")
-      else if error.code is 'ENOENT' and error.path?
-        atom.notifications.addWarning("No such file '#{error.path}'")
-      else if error.code is 'EACCES' and error.path?
-        atom.notifications.addWarning("Permission denied '#{error.path}'")
-      else
-        throw error
+      switch error.code
+        when 'EFILETOOLARGE'
+          atom.notifications.addWarning("#{error.message} Large file support is being tracked at [atom/atom#307](https://github.com/atom/atom/issues/307).")
+        when 'EACCES'
+          atom.notifications.addWarning("Permission denied '#{error.path}'")
+        else
+          throw error
       return Q()
 
     Q(item)