diff --git a/QtPyLoT.py b/QtPyLoT.py
index 22579058..9176326a 100755
--- a/QtPyLoT.py
+++ b/QtPyLoT.py
@@ -143,18 +143,25 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
                     filt = """Supported event formats (*.mat *.qml *.xml *.kor
                               *.evt)"""
                     caption = 'Select event to open'
-                    fname = QFileDialog().getOpenFileName(self, caption=caption,
+                    self.fname = QFileDialog().getOpenFileName(self, caption=caption,
                                                           filter=filt)
                 else:
-                    fname = unicode(action.data().toString())
+                    self.fname = unicode(action.data().toString())
                 if not self.okToContinue():
                     return
             else:
                 return
         if fname:
-            self.data = Data(evtdata=fname)
+            self.fname = fname
+            self.data = Data(evtdata=self.fname)
 
     def saveData(self):
+        settings = QSettings()
+        exform = settings.value('data/exportFormat', 'None')
+        try:
+            self.data.exportEvent(self.fname, exform)
+        except FormatError:
+            return False
         return True
 
     def getComponent(self):
diff --git a/pylot/core/read/data.py b/pylot/core/read/data.py
index 82c75db8..3be72605 100644
--- a/pylot/core/read/data.py
+++ b/pylot/core/read/data.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from obspy.core import (read, Stream)
 from obspy import readEvents
 from obspy.core.event import (Event, Catalog)
 from pylot.core.util import fnConstructor
+from pylot.core.util.errors import FormatError
 
 
 class Data(object):
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ class Data(object):
         from pylot.core.util.defaults import OUTPUTFORMATS
 
         if evtformat.strip() not in OUTPUTFORMATS.values():
-            evtformat = OUTPUTFORMATS.values()[0]
+            errmsg = 'selected format {0} not available'.format(evtformat)
+            raise FormatError(errmsg)
 
         if fnout is None:
             ID = self.evtdata.getEventID()
diff --git a/pylot/core/util/errors.py b/pylot/core/util/errors.py
index 68125c2d..0b2a4780 100644
--- a/pylot/core/util/errors.py
+++ b/pylot/core/util/errors.py
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ Created on Thu Mar 20 09:47:04 2014
 
 class OptionsError(Exception):
     pass
+
+class FormatError(Exception):
+    pass