diff --git a/ROMFS/CMakeLists.txt b/ROMFS/CMakeLists.txt
index b0a5fe4ca1..2f663701b5 100644
--- a/ROMFS/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/ROMFS/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ function(px4_add_romfs_files)
 	set_property(GLOBAL APPEND PROPERTY PX4_ROMFS_CMAKE_FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_FILE})
 
 	foreach(arg IN LISTS ARGN)
+		if(NOT EXISTS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/${arg})
+			message(FATAL_ERROR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/${arg} doesn't exist")
+		endif()
 		set_property(GLOBAL APPEND PROPERTY PX4_ROMFS_FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_LIST_DIR}/${arg})
 	endforeach()
 endfunction()