diff --git a/qtgui/opensessioncontroller.py b/qtgui/opensessioncontroller.py
index 7afec36..c3a322c 100644
--- a/qtgui/opensessioncontroller.py
+++ b/qtgui/opensessioncontroller.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import engine.api as api
 
 #Qt
 from .descriptiontextwidget import DescriptionController
+from .helper import iconFromString
 
 iconSize = QtCore.QSize(16,16)
 
@@ -107,12 +108,17 @@ class ClientItem(QtWidgets.QTreeWidgetItem):
         programIcons = self.parentController.mainWindow.programIcons
         assert programIcons
         assert "executable" in clientDict, clientDict
+        iconColumn = self.parentController.clientsTreeWidgetColumns.index("reportedName")
         if clientDict["executable"] in programIcons:
             icon = programIcons[clientDict["executable"]]
-            self.setIcon(self.parentController.clientsTreeWidgetColumns.index("reportedName"), icon) #reported name is correct here. this is just the column.
+            assert icon, icon
+            self.setIcon(iconColumn, icon) #reported name is correct here. this is just the column.
         else: #Not NSM client added by the prompt widget
             icon = QtGui.QIcon.fromTheme(clientDict["executable"])
-            self.setIcon(self.parentController.clientsTreeWidgetColumns.index("reportedName"), icon)
+            if not icon.isNull():
+                self.setIcon(iconColumn, icon)
+            else:
+                self.setIcon(iconColumn, iconFromString(clientDict["executable"]))
 
         nameColumn = self.parentController.clientsTreeWidgetColumns.index("reportedName")
         if clientDict["reportedName"] is None: