diff --git a/src/main/java/com/adobe/epubcheck/tool/EpubChecker.java b/src/main/java/com/adobe/epubcheck/tool/EpubChecker.java
index 510c16b87..a2953c5bc 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/adobe/epubcheck/tool/EpubChecker.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/adobe/epubcheck/tool/EpubChecker.java
@@ -440,8 +440,15 @@ private int processFile(Report report)
     {
       if (expanded)
       {
-        Archive epub;
+        // check existance of path (fix #525)
+        File f = new File(path);
+        if (!f.exists())
+        {
+          System.err.println(String.format(Messages.get("directory_not_found"), path));
+          return 1;
+        }
 
+        Archive epub;
         try
         {
           epub = new Archive(path, true);
diff --git a/src/main/resources/com/adobe/epubcheck/util/messages.properties b/src/main/resources/com/adobe/epubcheck/util/messages.properties
index 2cb2f4244..4424d4eed 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/com/adobe/epubcheck/util/messages.properties
+++ b/src/main/resources/com/adobe/epubcheck/util/messages.properties
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ validating_version_message=Validating using EPUB version %1$s rules.
 output_type_conflict=Only one output format can be specified at a time.
 validating_against_epub_version=Validating against EPUB version %1$s - custom validation
 file_not_found=File not found: '%1$s'
+directory_not_found=Directory not found: '%1$s'
 epubcheck_completed=epubcheck completed
 error_creating_config_file=Error creating config file '%1$s'.
 expected_message_filename=Expected the Custom message file name, but found '%1$s'