diff --git a/file_ops.c b/file_ops.c
index e477f3d044..55d2a18cdc 100644
--- a/file_ops.c
+++ b/file_ops.c
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ static bool read_generic_file(const char *path, void **buf, ssize_t *len)
    fseek(file, 0, SEEK_END);
 
    _len     = ftell(file);
+   if (_len < 0)
+      goto error;
 
    rewind(file);