diff --git a/src/program_runner.rs b/src/program_runner.rs
index 03f0f15..dc1307b 100644
--- a/src/program_runner.rs
+++ b/src/program_runner.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use actix::{
 use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use thiserror::Error;
 use tokio::{
-    sync::{broadcast, mpsc, oneshot},
+    sync::broadcast,
     time::{delay_queue, DelayQueue},
 };
 use tracing::{debug, error, trace, warn};
@@ -263,22 +263,23 @@ impl Handler<UpdatePrograms> for ProgramRunnerActor {
 }
 
 #[derive(Message)]
-#[rtype(result = "()")]
+#[rtype(result = "Result<ProgramRef>")]
 struct RunProgramId(ProgramId);
 
 impl Handler<RunProgramId> for ProgramRunnerActor {
-    type Result = ();
+    type Result = Result<ProgramRef>;
     fn handle(&mut self, msg: RunProgramId, ctx: &mut Self::Context) -> Self::Result {
         let RunProgramId(program_id) = msg;
         let program = match self.inner.programs.get(&program_id) {
             Some(program) => program.clone(),
             None => {
-                warn!(program_id, "trying to run non-existant program");
-                return;
+                trace!(program_id, "trying to run non-existant program");
+                return Err(ProgramRunnerError::InvalidProgramId(program_id));
             }
         };
-        self.run_queue.push_back(ProgRun::new(program));
+        self.run_queue.push_back(ProgRun::new(program.clone()));
         ctx.notify(Process);
+        Ok(program)
     }
 }
 
@@ -389,29 +390,18 @@ impl ProgramRunnerActor {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Error)]
-#[error("the ProgramRunner channel is closed")]
-pub struct ChannelClosed;
-
-pub type Result<T, E = ChannelClosed> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
-
-impl<T> From<mpsc::error::SendError<T>> for ChannelClosed {
-    fn from(_: mpsc::error::SendError<T>) -> Self {
-        Self
-    }
-}
-
-impl From<oneshot::error::RecvError> for ChannelClosed {
-    fn from(_: oneshot::error::RecvError) -> Self {
-        Self
-    }
+pub enum ProgramRunnerError {
+    #[error("mailbox error: {0}")]
+    Mailbox(
+        #[from]
+        #[source]
+        actix::MailboxError,
+    ),
+    #[error("no such program id: {0}")]
+    InvalidProgramId(ProgramId),
 }
 
-impl From<actix::MailboxError> for ChannelClosed {
-    fn from(_: actix::MailboxError) -> Self {
-        // TODO:
-        Self
-    }
-}
+pub type Result<T, E = ProgramRunnerError> = std::result::Result<T, E>;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct ProgramRunner {
@@ -434,35 +424,35 @@ impl ProgramRunner {
         self.addr
             .send(UpdateSections(new_sections))
             .await
-            .map_err(From::from)
+            .map_err(ProgramRunnerError::from)
     }
 
     pub async fn update_programs(&mut self, new_programs: Programs) -> Result<()> {
         self.addr
             .send(UpdatePrograms(new_programs))
             .await
-            .map_err(From::from)
+            .map_err(ProgramRunnerError::from)
     }
 
-    pub async fn run_program_id(&mut self, program_id: ProgramId) -> Result<()> {
+    pub async fn run_program_id(&mut self, program_id: ProgramId) -> Result<ProgramRef> {
         self.addr
             .send(RunProgramId(program_id))
             .await
-            .map_err(From::from)
+            .map_err(ProgramRunnerError::from)?
     }
 
     pub async fn run_program(&mut self, program: ProgramRef) -> Result<()> {
         self.addr
             .send(RunProgram(program))
             .await
-            .map_err(From::from)
+            .map_err(ProgramRunnerError::from)
     }
 
     pub async fn cancel_program(&mut self, program_id: ProgramId) -> Result<()> {
         self.addr
             .send(CancelProgram(program_id))
             .await
-            .map_err(From::from)
+            .map_err(ProgramRunnerError::from)
     }
 
     pub async fn subscribe(&mut self) -> Result<ProgramEventRecv> {