diff --git a/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py b/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
index f63b49f41..24e3ee0f2 100644
--- a/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
+++ b/DDG4/python/DDSim/DD4hepSimulation.py
@@ -223,8 +223,10 @@ def parseOptions(self, argv=None):
     self._dumpSteeringFile = parsed.dumpSteeringFile
 
     self.compactFile = ConfigHelper.makeList(parsed.compactFile)
+    self.__checkFilesExist(self.compactFile, fileType='compact')
     self.inputFiles = parsed.inputFiles
     self.inputFiles = self.__checkFileFormat(self.inputFiles, POSSIBLEINPUTFILES)
+    self.__checkFilesExist(self.inputFiles, fileType='input')
     self.outputFile = parsed.outputFile
     self.__checkFileFormat(self.outputFile, ('.root', '.slcio'))
     self.runType = parsed.runType
@@ -539,6 +541,19 @@ def __setMagneticFieldOptions(self, geant4):
     field.delta_one_step = self.field.delta_one_step
     field.largest_step = self.field.largest_step
 
+  def __checkFilesExist(self, fileNames, fileType=''):
+    """Make sure all files in the given list exist, add to errorMessage otherwise.
+
+
+    :param list fileNames: list of files to check for existence
+    :param str fileType: type if file, for nicer error message
+    """
+    if isinstance(fileNames, str):
+      fileNames = [fileNames]
+    for fileName in fileNames:
+      if not os.path.exists(fileName):
+        self._errorMessages.append(f"ERROR: The {fileType}file '{fileName}' does not exist")
+
   def __checkFileFormat(self, fileNames, extensions):
     """check if the fileName is allowed, note that the filenames are case
     sensitive, and in case of hepevt we depend on this to identify short and long versions of the content