diff --git a/core-modules/01QubesHVm.py b/core-modules/01QubesHVm.py
index 2a6e9f04..c98b67b5 100644
--- a/core-modules/01QubesHVm.py
+++ b/core-modules/01QubesHVm.py
@@ -312,7 +312,16 @@ class QubesHVm(QubesResizableVm):
         else:
             return -1
 
+    def validate_drive_path(self, drive):
+        drive_type, drive_domain, drive_path = drive.split(':', 2)
+        if drive_domain == 'dom0':
+            if not os.path.exists(drive_path):
+                raise QubesException("Invalid drive path '{}'".format(
+                    drive_path))
+
     def start(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        if self.drive:
+            self.validate_drive_path(self.drive)
         # make it available to storage.prepare_for_vm_startup, which is
         # called before actually building VM libvirt configuration
         self.storage.drive = self.drive