Cryptic error when trying to drag an app shortcut from dash to desktop

Binary package hint: unity

A user recently asked me how to create a desktop shortcut to an application. Of course there is the create launcher context menu option, but the user though they should be able to drag a shortcut from the dash to the desktop just like they can drag a short cut from the dash to the launcher/dock. I'm not sure if this is a use case that we want to support. The launcher seems like a better place for a shortcut, but if nothing else the error message shouldn't be so cryptic:
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Error while copying.

There was an error getting information about "/"
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Screenshot attached.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: unity 3.8.8-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-8.42-generic 2.6.38.2
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-8-generic i686
Architecture: i386
CompizPlugins: [core,bailer,detection,composite,opengl,compiztoolbox,decor,gnomecompat,obs,regex,animation,expo,mousepoll,resize,wall,imgpng,grid,snap,place,workarounds,ezoom,move,vpswitch,thumbnail,unitymtgrabhandles,staticswitcher,session,fade,scale,addhelper,unityshell]
Date: Mon Apr 18 15:06:57 2011
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Beta i386 (20110413)
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 PATH=(custom, user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: unity
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to natty on 2011-04-12 (5 days ago)