diff --git a/src/app/main.cpp b/src/app/main.cpp
index ec62e03b..cbe6c667 100644
--- a/src/app/main.cpp
+++ b/src/app/main.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "utility/logging/logging.h"
 #include "utility/logging/LogManager.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageEnteredLicense.h"
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageLoadProject.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageStatus.h"
 #include "utility/ResourcePaths.h"
 #include "utility/ScopedFunctor.h"
@@ -123,6 +124,25 @@ void prefillCxxFrameworkPaths()
 	}
 }
 
+void prefillPaths()
+{
+	prefillJavaRuntimePath();
+	prefillMavenExecutablePath();
+	prefillCxxHeaderPaths();
+	prefillCxxFrameworkPaths();
+}
+
+void addLanguageModules()
+{
+	SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleC>());
+	SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleCpp>());
+	SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleJava>());
+
+	IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleJava>());
+	IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxCdb>());
+	IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxManual>());
+}
+
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
 	QApplication::setApplicationName("Sourcetrail");
@@ -164,18 +184,8 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			Application::destroyInstance();
 		});
 
-		prefillJavaRuntimePath();
-		prefillMavenExecutablePath();
-		prefillCxxHeaderPaths();
-		prefillCxxFrameworkPaths();
-
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleC>());
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleCpp>());
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleJava>());
-
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleJava>());
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxCdb>());
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxManual>());
+		prefillPaths();
+		addLanguageModules();
 
 		std::shared_ptr<LicenseChecker> checker = LicenseChecker::getInstance();
 
@@ -202,7 +212,10 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			commandLineParser.projectLoad();
+			MessageLoadProject(
+				commandLineParser.getProjectFilePath(),
+				commandLineParser.getFullProjectRefresh()
+			).dispatch();
 		}
 		return qtApp.exec();
 	}
@@ -226,18 +239,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 			Application::destroyInstance();
 		});
 
-		prefillJavaRuntimePath();
-		prefillMavenExecutablePath();
-		prefillCxxHeaderPaths();
-		prefillCxxFrameworkPaths();
+		prefillPaths();
+		addLanguageModules();
 
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleC>());
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleCpp>());
-		SourceGroupFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<SourceGroupFactoryModuleJava>());
-
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleJava>());
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxCdb>());
-		IndexerFactory::getInstance()->addModule(std::make_shared<IndexerFactoryModuleCxxManual>());
+		utility::loadFontsFromDirectory(ResourcePaths::getFontsPath(), ".otf");
+		utility::loadFontsFromDirectory(ResourcePaths::getFontsPath(), ".ttf");
 
 		if (commandLineParser.hasError())
 		{
@@ -245,12 +251,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			commandLineParser.projectLoad();
+			MessageLoadProject(
+				commandLineParser.getProjectFilePath(),
+				commandLineParser.getFullProjectRefresh()
+			).dispatch();
 		}
 
-		utility::loadFontsFromDirectory(ResourcePaths::getFontsPath(), ".otf");
-		utility::loadFontsFromDirectory(ResourcePaths::getFontsPath(), ".ttf");
-
 		return qtApp.exec();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/Application.cpp b/src/lib/Application.cpp
index 056dc109..08cd1d9a 100644
--- a/src/lib/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/Application.cpp
@@ -183,13 +183,13 @@ void Application::createAndLoadProject(const FilePath& projectSettingsFilePath)
 
 		if (m_project)
 		{
-			m_project->load();
-
 			if (m_hasGUI)
 			{
 				updateTitle();
 				m_mainView->hideStartScreen();
 			}
+
+			m_project->load();
 		}
 		else
 		{
diff --git a/src/lib/CMakeLists.txt b/src/lib/CMakeLists.txt
index c679ac96..e1e1eb51 100644
--- a/src/lib/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/lib/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -403,7 +403,6 @@ add_files(
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageShowErrors.h
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageShowReference.h
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageShowScope.h
-	utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStatus.h
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageStatus.h
 	utility/messaging/type/MessageStatusFilterChanged.h
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.cpp b/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.cpp
index 67ff56da..acbdfe1f 100644
--- a/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.cpp
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 #include "boost/program_options.hpp"
 
 #include "utility/ConfigManager.h"
-#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageLoadProject.h"
-#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h"
 #include "utility/text/TextAccess.h"
 #include "utility/utilityString.h"
 #include "License.h"
@@ -151,7 +149,7 @@ bool CommandLineParser::startedWithLicense()
 
 void CommandLineParser::processProjectfile(const std::string& file)
 {
-	FilePath projectfile(file);
+	FilePath projectfile = FilePath(file).absolute();
 	const std::string errorstring =
 		"Provided Projectfile is not valid:\n* Provided Projectfile('" + projectfile.fileName() + "') ";
 	if (!projectfile.exists())
@@ -173,21 +171,7 @@ void CommandLineParser::processProjectfile(const std::string& file)
 		return;
 	}
 
-	m_projectFile = projectfile.absolute();
-}
-
-void CommandLineParser::projectLoad()
-{
-	if (m_projectFile.exists() &&
-		(m_projectFile.extension() == ".srctrlprj" || m_projectFile.extension() == ".coatiproject"))
-	{
-		MessageLoadProject(m_projectFile, m_force).dispatch();
-	}
-	else
-	{
-		MessageShowStartScreen().dispatch();
-	}
-
+	m_projectFile = projectfile;
 }
 
 License CommandLineParser::getLicense()
@@ -195,3 +179,12 @@ License CommandLineParser::getLicense()
 	return m_license;
 }
 
+const FilePath& CommandLineParser::getProjectFilePath() const
+{
+	return m_projectFile;
+}
+
+bool CommandLineParser::getFullProjectRefresh() const
+{
+	return m_force;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.h b/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.h
index a8301b56..2f03b7b8 100644
--- a/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.h
+++ b/src/lib/utility/commandline/CommandLineParser.h
@@ -13,11 +13,15 @@ public:
 
 	bool runWithoutGUI();
 	bool exitApplication();
-	void projectLoad();
 	bool startedWithLicense();
 	bool hasError();
+
 	std::string getError();
 	License getLicense();
+
+	const FilePath& getProjectFilePath() const;
+	bool getFullProjectRefresh() const;
+
 private:
 	void processProjectfile(const std::string& file);
 	void processLicense(const bool isLoaded);
diff --git a/src/lib/utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h b/src/lib/utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h
deleted file mode 100644
index a0449829..00000000
--- a/src/lib/utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-#ifndef MESSAGE_SHOW_START_SCREEN_H
-#define MESSAGE_SHOW_START_SCREEN_H
-
-#include "utility/messaging/Message.h"
-
-class MessageShowStartScreen
-	: public Message<MessageShowStartScreen>
-{
-public:
-	MessageShowStartScreen()
-	{
-	}
-
-	static const std::string getStaticType()
-	{
-		return "MessageShowStartScreen";
-	}
-};
-
-#endif // MESSAGE_SHOW_START_SCREEN_H
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
index b4639e92..2f803a5e 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.cpp
@@ -150,6 +150,18 @@ void QtMainView::handleMessage(MessageForceEnterLicense* message)
 	);
 }
 
+void QtMainView::handleMessage(MessageLoadProject* message)
+{
+	bool showStartWindow = message->projectSettingsFilePath.empty();
+
+	m_onQtThread(
+		[=]()
+		{
+			m_window->loadWindow(showStartWindow);
+		}
+	);
+}
+
 void QtMainView::handleMessage(MessageProjectEdit* message)
 {
 	m_onQtThread(
@@ -172,13 +184,3 @@ void QtMainView::handleMessage(MessageProjectNew* message)
 		}
 	);
 }
-
-void QtMainView::handleMessage(MessageShowStartScreen* message)
-{
-	m_onQtThread(
-		[=]()
-		{
-			m_window->showStartScreen();
-		}
-	);
-}
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.h b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.h
index 46ba4fb7..9dddec8b 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.h
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/view/QtMainView.h
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 
 #include "utility/messaging/MessageListener.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageForceEnterLicense.h"
+#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageLoadProject.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageProjectEdit.h"
 #include "utility/messaging/type/MessageProjectNew.h"
-#include "utility/messaging/type/MessageShowStartScreen.h"
 
 class QtMainWindow;
 class View;
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ class View;
 class QtMainView
 	: public MainView
 	, public MessageListener<MessageForceEnterLicense>
+	, public MessageListener<MessageLoadProject>
 	, public MessageListener<MessageProjectEdit>
 	, public MessageListener<MessageProjectNew>
-	, public MessageListener<MessageShowStartScreen>
 {
 public:
 	QtMainView();
@@ -55,9 +55,9 @@ public:
 
 private:
 	void handleMessage(MessageForceEnterLicense* message);
+	void handleMessage(MessageLoadProject* message);
 	void handleMessage(MessageProjectEdit* message);
 	void handleMessage(MessageProjectNew* message);
-	void handleMessage(MessageShowStartScreen* message);
 
 	std::shared_ptr<QtMainWindow> m_window;
 	std::vector<View*> m_views;
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
index d26f2773..d3a2f6ce 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.cpp
@@ -99,7 +99,8 @@ bool MouseReleaseFilter::eventFilter(QObject* obj, QEvent* event)
 
 
 QtMainWindow::QtMainWindow()
-	: m_historyMenu(nullptr)
+	: m_loaded(false)
+	, m_historyMenu(nullptr)
 	, m_bookmarksMenu(nullptr)
 	, m_showDockWidgetTitleBars(true)
 	, m_windowStack(this)
@@ -224,7 +225,48 @@ void QtMainWindow::loadDockWidgetLayout()
 	{
 		dock.action->setChecked(!dock.widget->isHidden());
 	}
+}
 
+void QtMainWindow::loadWindow(bool showStartWindow)
+{
+	if (m_loaded)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	m_loaded = true;
+
+	LicenseChecker::LicenseState state = LicenseChecker::getInstance()->checkCurrentLicense();
+	bool licenseValid = (state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_VALID);
+
+	if (licenseValid)
+	{
+		MessageEnteredLicense(LicenseChecker::getInstance()->getCurrentLicenseType()).dispatch();
+	}
+
+	setTrialActionsEnabled(licenseValid);
+
+	if (state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_MOVED)
+	{
+		ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->setLicenseString("");
+	}
+
+	if (showStartWindow)
+	{
+		showStartScreen();
+	}
+
+	if (state != LicenseChecker::LICENSE_VALID && state != LicenseChecker::LICENSE_EMPTY)
+	{
+		forceEnterLicense(state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_EXPIRED);
+	}
+
+#ifndef Q_OS_WIN
+	if (ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getAcceptedEulaVersion() < QtEulaWindow::EULA_VERSION)
+	{
+		showEula(true);
+	}
+#endif
 }
 
 void QtMainWindow::saveLayout()
@@ -446,41 +488,17 @@ void QtMainWindow::showLogFolder()
 
 void QtMainWindow::showStartScreen()
 {
-	LicenseChecker::LicenseState state = LicenseChecker::getInstance()->checkCurrentLicense();
-	bool licenseValid = (state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_VALID);
-
-	if (licenseValid)
+	if (dynamic_cast<QtStartScreen*>(m_windowStack.getTopWindow()))
 	{
-		MessageEnteredLicense(LicenseChecker::getInstance()->getCurrentLicenseType()).dispatch();
+		return;
 	}
 
-	setTrialActionsEnabled(licenseValid);
-
-	if (state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_MOVED)
-	{
-		ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->setLicenseString("");
-	}
-
-
 	QtStartScreen* startScreen = createWindow<QtStartScreen>();
-	startScreen->setupStartScreen(licenseValid);
+	startScreen->setupStartScreen();
 
 	connect(startScreen, SIGNAL(openOpenProjectDialog()), this, SLOT(openProject()));
 	connect(startScreen, SIGNAL(openNewProjectDialog()), this, SLOT(newProject()));
 	connect(startScreen, SIGNAL(openEnterLicenseDialog()), this, SLOT(enterLicense()));
-
-	if (state != LicenseChecker::LICENSE_VALID && state != LicenseChecker::LICENSE_EMPTY)
-	{
-		forceEnterLicense(state == LicenseChecker::LICENSE_EXPIRED);
-	}
-
-#ifndef Q_OS_WIN
-	if (ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getAcceptedEulaVersion() < QtEulaWindow::EULA_VERSION)
-	{
-		showEula(true);
-	}
-#endif
-
 }
 
 void QtMainWindow::hideStartScreen()
@@ -769,6 +787,8 @@ void QtMainWindow::setupViewMenu()
 	QMenu *menu = new QMenu(tr("&View"), this);
 	menuBar()->addMenu(menu);
 
+	menu->addAction(tr("Show Start Window"), this, SLOT(showStartScreen()));
+
 	m_showTitleBarsAction = new QAction("Show Title Bars", this);
 	m_showTitleBarsAction->setCheckable(true);
 	m_showTitleBarsAction->setChecked(m_showDockWidgetTitleBars);
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
index 2a8bc9ed..53fb55f4 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtMainWindow.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ public:
 	void saveLayout();
 
 	void loadDockWidgetLayout();
+	void loadWindow(bool showStartWindow);
 
 	void forceEnterLicense(bool expired);
 
@@ -163,6 +164,9 @@ private:
 		T* createWindow();
 
 	std::vector<DockWidget> m_dockWidgets;
+
+	bool m_loaded;
+
 	QMenu* m_viewMenu;
 	QAction* m_viewSeparator;
 
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
index c066a2a8..c47669de 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 #include "qt/utility/utilityQt.h"
 #include "utility/Version.h"
 #include "License.h"
+#include "PublicKey.h"
 #include "utility/AppPath.h"
 
 QtRecentProjectButton::QtRecentProjectButton(QWidget* parent)
@@ -138,8 +139,13 @@ size_t i = 0;
 	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet(ResourcePaths::getGuiPath().concat(FilePath("startscreen/startscreen.css"))).c_str());
 }
 
-void QtStartScreen::setupStartScreen(bool unlocked)
+void QtStartScreen::setupStartScreen()
 {
+	License license;
+	license.loadFromEncodedString(ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getLicenseString(), AppPath::getAppPath());
+	license.loadPublicKeyFromString(PUBLIC_KEY);
+	bool licenseValid = license.isValid();
+
 	setStyleSheet(utility::getStyleSheet(ResourcePaths::getGuiPath().concat(FilePath("startscreen/startscreen.css"))).c_str());
 	addLogo();
 
@@ -152,7 +158,7 @@ void QtStartScreen::setupStartScreen(bool unlocked)
 		QVBoxLayout* col = new QVBoxLayout();
 		layout->addLayout(col, 2);
 
-		if (!unlocked)
+		if (!licenseValid)
 		{
 			col->addSpacing(4);
 
@@ -207,19 +213,15 @@ void QtStartScreen::setupStartScreen(bool unlocked)
 
 			col->addSpacing(20);
 
-			License license;
-            license.loadFromEncodedString(
-				ApplicationSettings::getInstance()->getLicenseString(), AppPath::getAppPath());
+			std::string licenseString = license.getLicenseInfo();
 
-            std::string licenseString = license.getLicenseInfo();
-
-            QLabel* licenseHeader = new QLabel("Licensed to:");
-            licenseHeader->setObjectName("licenseHeaderLabel");
-            col->addWidget(licenseHeader);
-            col->addSpacing(2);
+			QLabel* licenseHeader = new QLabel("Licensed to:");
+			licenseHeader->setObjectName("licenseHeaderLabel");
+			col->addWidget(licenseHeader);
+			col->addSpacing(2);
 			QLabel* licenseLabel = new QLabel(licenseString.c_str());
-            licenseLabel->setObjectName("licenseLabel");
-            col->addWidget(licenseLabel);
+			licenseLabel->setObjectName("licenseLabel");
+			col->addWidget(licenseLabel);
 
 			col->addStretch();
 
@@ -248,7 +250,7 @@ void QtStartScreen::setupStartScreen(bool unlocked)
 		layout->addLayout(col, 1);
 
 		QLabel* recentProjectsLabel = new QLabel("Recent Projects: ", this);
-		if (!unlocked)
+		if (!licenseValid)
 		{
 			recentProjectsLabel->setText("Projects:");
 		}
diff --git a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
index 8db8a8f5..642807eb 100644
--- a/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
+++ b/src/lib_gui/qt/window/QtStartScreen.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public:
 	QtStartScreen(QWidget* parent = 0);
 	QSize sizeHint() const override;
 
-	void setupStartScreen(bool unlocked);
+	void setupStartScreen();
 
 signals:
 	void openOpenProjectDialog();