diff --git a/userspace/falco/outputs_file.cpp b/userspace/falco/outputs_file.cpp
index 2706cf38c11..5ca454f0569 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/outputs_file.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/outputs_file.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ void falco::outputs::output_file::open_file()
 	if(!m_outfile.is_open())
 	{
 		m_outfile.open(m_oc.options["filename"], fstream::app);
+		if (m_outfile.fail())
+		{
+			throw falco_exception("failed to open output file " + m_oc.options["filename"]);
+		}
 	}
 }