diff --git a/examples/edit.js b/examples/edit.js
index 0d1164685a..f508de3cec 100644
--- a/examples/edit.js
+++ b/examples/edit.js
@@ -1035,7 +1035,7 @@ function handeMenuEvent(menuItem) {
 
         var importURL;
         if (menuItem == "Import Entities") {
-            importURL = Window.browse("Select models to import", "", "*.json");
+            importURL = "file:///" + Window.browse("Select models to import", "", "*.json");
         } else {
             importURL = Window.prompt("URL of SVO to import", "");
         }
diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index d33f752cfe..2a8f7cf8b5 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -2340,7 +2340,8 @@ bool Application::exportEntities(const QString& filename, const QVector<EntityIt
     QVector<EntityItemPointer> entities;
 
     auto entityTree = _entities.getTree();
-    EntityTree exportTree;
+    auto exportTree = std::make_shared<EntityTree>();
+    exportTree->createRootElement();
 
     glm::vec3 root(TREE_SCALE, TREE_SCALE, TREE_SCALE);
     for (auto entityID : entityIDs) {
@@ -2367,10 +2368,10 @@ bool Application::exportEntities(const QString& filename, const QVector<EntityIt
         auto properties = entityItem->getProperties();
 
         properties.setPosition(properties.getPosition() - root);
-        exportTree.addEntity(entityItem->getEntityItemID(), properties);
+        exportTree->addEntity(entityItem->getEntityItemID(), properties);
     }
 
-    exportTree.writeToJSONFile(filename.toLocal8Bit().constData());
+    exportTree->writeToJSONFile(filename.toLocal8Bit().constData());
 
     // restore the main window's active state
     _window->activateWindow();
@@ -2383,15 +2384,16 @@ bool Application::exportEntities(const QString& filename, float x, float y, floa
 
     if (entities.size() > 0) {
         glm::vec3 root(x, y, z);
-        EntityTree exportTree;
+        auto exportTree = std::make_shared<EntityTree>();
+        exportTree->createRootElement();
 
         for (int i = 0; i < entities.size(); i++) {
             EntityItemProperties properties = entities.at(i)->getProperties();
             EntityItemID id = entities.at(i)->getEntityItemID();
             properties.setPosition(properties.getPosition() - root);
-            exportTree.addEntity(id, properties);
+            exportTree->addEntity(id, properties);
         }
-        exportTree.writeToSVOFile(filename.toLocal8Bit().constData());
+        exportTree->writeToSVOFile(filename.toLocal8Bit().constData());
     } else {
         qCDebug(interfaceapp) << "No models were selected";
         return false;
diff --git a/interface/src/scripting/ClipboardScriptingInterface.cpp b/interface/src/scripting/ClipboardScriptingInterface.cpp
index f833ad43cc..4cebb85648 100644
--- a/interface/src/scripting/ClipboardScriptingInterface.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/scripting/ClipboardScriptingInterface.cpp
@@ -19,17 +19,40 @@ float ClipboardScriptingInterface::getClipboardContentsLargestDimension() {
 }
 
 bool ClipboardScriptingInterface::exportEntities(const QString& filename, const QVector<EntityItemID>& entityIDs) {
-    return Application::getInstance()->exportEntities(filename, entityIDs);
+    bool retVal;
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Application::getInstance(), "exportEntities", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                              Q_RETURN_ARG(bool, retVal),
+                              Q_ARG(const QString&, filename),
+                              Q_ARG(const QVector<EntityItemID>&, entityIDs));
+    return retVal;
 }
 
 bool ClipboardScriptingInterface::exportEntities(const QString& filename, float x, float y, float z, float s) {
-    return Application::getInstance()->exportEntities(filename, x, y, z, s);
+    bool retVal;
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Application::getInstance(), "exportEntities", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                              Q_RETURN_ARG(bool, retVal),
+                              Q_ARG(const QString&, filename),
+                              Q_ARG(float, x),
+                              Q_ARG(float, y),
+                              Q_ARG(float, z),
+                              Q_ARG(float, s));
+    return retVal;
 }
 
 bool ClipboardScriptingInterface::importEntities(const QString& filename) {
-    return Application::getInstance()->importEntities(filename);
+    bool retVal;
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Application::getInstance(), "importEntities", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                              Q_RETURN_ARG(bool, retVal),
+                              Q_ARG(const QString&, filename));
+    return retVal;
 }
 
 QVector<EntityItemID> ClipboardScriptingInterface::pasteEntities(glm::vec3 position) {
-    return Application::getInstance()->pasteEntities(position.x, position.y, position.z);
+    QVector<EntityItemID> retVal;
+    QMetaObject::invokeMethod(Application::getInstance(), "pasteEntities", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection,
+                              Q_RETURN_ARG(QVector<EntityItemID>, retVal),
+                              Q_ARG(float, position.x),
+                              Q_ARG(float, position.y),
+                              Q_ARG(float, position.z));
+    return retVal;
 }