diff --git a/zathura/links.c b/zathura/links.c
index 49f0e26..83967db 100644
--- a/zathura/links.c
+++ b/zathura/links.c
@@ -235,7 +235,9 @@ link_launch(zathura_t* zathura, const zathura_link_t* link)
     g_free(dir);
   }
 
-  if (girara_xdg_open(path) == false) {
+  if (zathura->global.sandbox == ZATHURA_SANDBOX_STRICT) {
+    girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR, _("Opening external applications in strict sandbox mode is not permitted"));
+  } else  if (girara_xdg_open(path) == false) {
     girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR, _("Failed to run xdg-open."));
   }
 
@@ -259,10 +261,8 @@ zathura_link_evaluate(zathura_t* zathura, zathura_link_t* link)
     case ZATHURA_LINK_URI:
       if (zathura->global.sandbox == ZATHURA_SANDBOX_STRICT) {
         girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR, _("Opening external applications in strict sandbox mode is not permitted"));
-      } else {
-        if (girara_xdg_open(link->target.value) == false) {
-          girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR, _("Failed to run xdg-open."));
-        }
+      } else if (girara_xdg_open(link->target.value) == false) {
+        girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_ERROR, _("Failed to run xdg-open."));
       }
       break;
     case ZATHURA_LINK_LAUNCH: