diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
index 99b5b737cd..110a38c85b 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/__init__.py
@@ -156,6 +156,8 @@ def open(
         print(products[0] == model[122] == model["2XQ$n5SLP5MBLyL442paFx"]) # True
     """
     path = Path(path)
+    if not path.exists():
+        raise FileNotFoundError(f"File does not exist: '{path}'.")
     if format is None:
         format = guess_format(path)
     if format == ".ifcXML":