diff --git a/linux_4ed.cpp b/linux_4ed.cpp
index 6a1672d3..25fdfd21 100644
--- a/linux_4ed.cpp
+++ b/linux_4ed.cpp
@@ -283,6 +283,7 @@ internal int         LinuxHandleToFD(Plat_Handle);
 
 internal void        LinuxStringDup(String*, void*, size_t);
 internal void        LinuxToggleFullscreen(Display*, Window);
+internal void        LinuxFatalErrorMsg(const char* msg);
 
 internal             Sys_Acquire_Lock_Sig(system_acquire_lock);
 internal             Sys_Release_Lock_Sig(system_release_lock);
diff --git a/linux_font.cpp b/linux_font.cpp
index e5f38d09..9f69b4ac 100644
--- a/linux_font.cpp
+++ b/linux_font.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,16 @@ linux_font_load(Partition *part, Render_Font *rf, char *name, i32 pt_size, i32 t
 #endif
 
     if (filename != 0){
+        struct stat st;
+        if(stat(filename, &st) == -1 || S_ISDIR(st.st_mode)){
+            char buff[1024];
+
+            // NOTE(inso): if/when you can load fonts from anywhere, the message should be changed.
+            snprintf(buff, sizeof(buff), "Unable to load font '%s'. Make sure this file is in the same directory as the '4ed' executable.", filename);
+            LinuxFatalErrorMsg(buff);
+            exit(1);
+        }
+
         result = font_load_freetype(part, rf, filename, pt_size, tab_width, use_hinting);
     }