diff --git a/src/path_util.c b/src/path_util.c
index 719d690..c30c5ae 100644
--- a/src/path_util.c
+++ b/src/path_util.c
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@ char *default_path(const char *biphome, const char *filename, const char *desc)
 
 void assert_path_exists(char *path)
 {
-	FILE* f;
-	if ((f = fopen(path, "r")) == NULL)
-		fatal("Unable to open file %s for reading", path);
-	else
-		fclose(f);
+	struct stat st_buf;
+
+	if (stat(path, &st_buf) != 0)
+		fatal("Path %s doesn't exist (%s)", path, strerror(errno));
 }
diff --git a/src/path_util.h b/src/path_util.h
index 87cbf6f..1e663c3 100644
--- a/src/path_util.h
+++ b/src/path_util.h
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
 #ifndef PATH_UTIL_H
 #define PATH_UTIL_H
 
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
 /* return path of filename located in bip home directory */
 char *default_path(const char *biphome, const char *filename, const char *desc);
 /* exit program if path doesn't exist */