diff --git a/application.py b/application.py
index 70ea103..499bc4d 100755
--- a/application.py
+++ b/application.py
@@ -738,13 +738,13 @@ class Application(object):
         self.win.addnstr(self.y-1, 0, util.pad('', l), l)
 
 def open_aes_file(path, nl, name=None):
-    if os.path.isfile(path):
+    if os.path.isfile(path) or not os.path.exists(path):
         p = getpass.getpass("Please enter the AES password: ")
         return buffer2.AesBuffer(path, p, nl, name)
     else:
         raise Exception, "can't open %r; unsupported file type" % path
 def open_plain_file(path, nl, name=None):
-    if os.path.isfile(path):
+    if os.path.isfile(path) or not os.path.exists(path):
         return buffer2.FileBuffer(path, nl, name)
     elif os.path.isdir(path):
         return buffer2.DirBuffer(path, nl, name)