diff --git a/bob/io/base/__init__.py b/bob/io/base/__init__.py
index 7f30f18bb6c942b6568a6f957361ba50f0af7782..87e5213f232e9bf53d2710351e826b0a0824217e 100644
--- a/bob/io/base/__init__.py
+++ b/bob/io/base/__init__.py
@@ -140,6 +140,8 @@ def load(inputs):
   from collections import Iterable
   import numpy
   if _is_string(inputs):
+    if not os.path.exists(inputs):
+      raise RuntimeError(f"`{inputs}' does not exist!")
     return File(inputs, 'r').read()
   elif isinstance(inputs, Iterable):
     retval = []