diff --git a/zndraw/cli.py b/zndraw/cli.py
index c332197c..07d9bef6 100644
--- a/zndraw/cli.py
+++ b/zndraw/cli.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 import dataclasses
 import datetime
 import os
+import pathlib
 import typing as t
 
 import typer
@@ -166,6 +167,11 @@ def main(
 
     env_config.save_to_env()
 
+    if remote is None and rev is None:
+        if not pathlib.Path(filename).exists():
+            typer.echo(f"File {filename} does not exist.")
+            raise typer.Exit(code=1)
+
     if standalone and url is None:
         if env_config.FLASK_STORAGE.startswith("znsocket"):
             # standalone with redis would assume a running instance of redis