diff --git a/examdownloader-cli.py b/examdownloader-cli.py
index 783d510..3f568e9 100644
--- a/examdownloader-cli.py
+++ b/examdownloader-cli.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
-import subprocess
 import sys
 import getpass
-import examdownloader
+from examdownloader import examdownloader, openFile
 
 module = 'CS1010S'
 username = 'E0123456'
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ def startDownload(args):
         username = args[1]
 
     password = getpass.getpass('Enter password for ' + username + ': ')
-    ed = examdownloader.examdownloader('CLI')
+    ed = examdownloader('CLI')
 
 
     def updateStatus(msg, type='normal'):
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ def updateStatus(msg, type='normal'):
     def downloadCallback(status, lastfile='', numFiles=0):
         if status:
             updateStatus(str(numFiles) + ' papers downloaded successfully!', 'success')
-            subprocess.call(['open', '-R', lastfile])
+            openFile(lastfile)
         else:
             updateStatus('Paper not released by Department', 'error')
 
diff --git a/examdownloader-gui.py b/examdownloader-gui.py
index f80a835..079eb71 100644
--- a/examdownloader-gui.py
+++ b/examdownloader-gui.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 from Tkinter import *
 import tkFileDialog
-import subprocess
 import thread
-import examdownloader
+from examdownloader import examdownloader, openFile
 
 FONT = ('Arial', 14, 'bold')
 
@@ -75,12 +74,12 @@ def startDownload(self):
         username = self.usernameField.get()
         password = self.passwordField.get()
         destination = self.destField.get()
-        ed = examdownloader.examdownloader('GUI')
+        ed = examdownloader('GUI')
 
         def downloadCallback(status, lastfile='', numFiles=0):
             if status:
                 self.updateStatus(str(numFiles) + ' papers downloaded successfully!', 'success')
-                subprocess.call(['open', '-R', lastfile])
+                openFile(lastfile)
             else:
                 self.updateStatus('Paper not released by Department', 'error')
 
diff --git a/examdownloader.py b/examdownloader.py
index 3106391..43bc31b 100644
--- a/examdownloader.py
+++ b/examdownloader.py
@@ -1,6 +1,28 @@
 import httplib
 import urllib
 import os
+import subprocess
+import platform
+
+
+def openFile(filepath):
+    """
+    Try to open a file in a desktop environment
+    Fails gracefully if an exception occurs or no file is passed
+    """
+    if not filepath:
+        return
+    try:
+        # snippet taken from here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/435669 by fearless_fool
+        if platform.system() == 'Darwin':  # macOS
+            subprocess.call(['open', '-R', filepath])
+        elif platform.system() == 'Windows':  # Windows
+            os.startfile(filepath, 'open')
+        else:  # linux variants
+            subprocess.call(['xdg-open', filepath])
+    except OSError:
+        pass
+
 
 class examdownloader(object):
     def __init__(self, mode):