diff --git a/src/netlist.c b/src/netlist.c
index a9dc73a7..39cbfebb 100644
--- a/src/netlist.c
+++ b/src/netlist.c
@@ -275,6 +275,7 @@ void hash_inst_pin(int what, int i, int j)
     my_snprintf(str, S(str), "symbol %s: missing all or name or dir attributes on pin %d\n  %s",
         xctx->inst[i].name, j, prop_ptr);
     statusmsg(str,2);
+    tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
     if(!netlist_count) {
       xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
       xctx->hilight_nets=1;
@@ -446,6 +447,7 @@ static void signal_short( char *n1, char *n2)
    my_snprintf(str, S(str), "shorted: %s - %s", n1, n2);
    dbg(1, "signal_short(): signal_short: shorted: %s - %s", n1, n2);
    statusmsg(str,2);
+   tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
    if(!netlist_count) {
       bus_hilight_lookup(n1, xctx->hilight_color, XINSERT);
       if(incr_hilight) incr_hilight_color();
@@ -1192,6 +1194,7 @@ int sym_vs_sch_pins()
                       statusmsg(str,2);
                       my_snprintf(str, S(str), "    %s <--> %s", type, pin_dir);
                       statusmsg(str,2);
+                      tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
                       for(j = 0; j < xctx->instances; j++) {
                         if(!strcmp(xctx->inst[j].name, xctx->sym[i].name)) {
                           xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
@@ -1208,6 +1211,7 @@ int sym_vs_sch_pins()
                   /* fprintf(errfp, "  unmatched sch / sym pin: %s\n", lab); */
                   my_snprintf(str, S(str), "Symbol %s: schematic pin: %s not in symbol", xctx->sym[i].name, lab);
                   statusmsg(str,2);
+                  tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
                   for(j = 0; j < xctx->instances; j++) {
                     if(!strcmp(xctx->inst[j].name, xctx->sym[i].name)) {
                       xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
@@ -1241,6 +1245,7 @@ int sym_vs_sch_pins()
           my_snprintf(str, S(str), "Symbol %s has %d pins, its schematic has %d pins",
                       xctx->sym[i].name, rects, pin_cnt);
           statusmsg(str,2);
+          tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
           for(j = 0; j < xctx->instances; j++) {
             if(!strcmp(xctx->inst[j].name, xctx->sym[i].name)) {
               xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
@@ -1264,6 +1269,7 @@ int sym_vs_sch_pins()
             my_snprintf(str, S(str), "Symbol %s: symbol pin: %s not in schematic",
                         xctx->sym[i].name, pin_name ? pin_name : "<NULL>");
             statusmsg(str,2);
+            tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
             for(k = 0; k < xctx->instances; k++) {
               if(!strcmp(xctx->inst[k].name, xctx->sym[i].name)) {
                 xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
diff --git a/src/node_hash.c b/src/node_hash.c
index 985bfc9b..5f1f9019 100644
--- a/src/node_hash.c
+++ b/src/node_hash.c
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ void traverse_node_hash()
        if(!netlist_count) bus_hilight_lookup(entry->token, xctx->hilight_color, XINSERT_NOREPLACE);
        if(incr_hilight) incr_hilight_color();
        statusmsg(str,2);
+       tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
      }
      else if(entry->d.out >=2 && entry->d.port>=0)  /*  era d.port>=2   03102001 */
      {
diff --git a/src/token.c b/src/token.c
index a91fb7ff..1674e5c8 100644
--- a/src/token.c
+++ b/src/token.c
@@ -2326,6 +2326,7 @@ const char *net_name(int i, int j, int *multip, int hash_prefix_unnamed_net, int
      my_snprintf(errstr, S(errstr), "Warning: unconnected pin,  Inst idx: %d, Pin idx: %d  Inst:%s\n",
                  i, j, xctx->inst[i].instname ) ;
      statusmsg(errstr,2);
+     tcleval("wm deiconify .infotext"); /* critical error: force ERC window showing */
      if(!netlist_count) {
        xctx->inst[i].color = -PINLAYER;
        xctx->hilight_nets=1;