diff --git a/src/config.f90 b/src/config.f90
index 022247aeb..86b1bc501 100644
--- a/src/config.f90
+++ b/src/config.f90
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ subroutine config_init()
  if(jobSpecificConfig) then
    fileContent = IO_recursiveRead(trim(getSolverJobName())//'.'//material_localFileExt)
  else
+   inquire(file='material.config',exist=jobSpecificConfig)
+   if(.not. jobSpecificConfig) call IO_error(0_pInt)
    fileContent = IO_recursiveRead('material.config')
  endif