diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xm/main.py b/tools/python/xen/xm/main.py
index 0db2e8636d..648c5968a7 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xm/main.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xm/main.py
@@ -188,6 +188,10 @@ def xm_restore(args):
 
     savefile = os.path.abspath(args[0])
 
+    if not os.access(savefile, os.R_OK):
+        err("xm restore: Unable to read file %s" % savefile)
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     from xen.xend.XendClient import server
     info = server.xend_domain_restore(savefile)
     PrettyPrint.prettyprint(info)