diff --git a/src/io/csv_file.f90 b/src/io/csv_file.f90
index 26be324beee..c7c13bacca6 100644
--- a/src/io/csv_file.f90
+++ b/src/io/csv_file.f90
@@ -308,7 +308,11 @@ function csv_file_count_lines(this) result(n)
     integer :: n
     integer :: ierr, file_unit
 
-    open(file = trim(this%fname), status = 'old', newunit = file_unit)
+    call this%check_exists()
+
+    open(file = trim(this%fname), status = 'old', newunit = file_unit, &
+         iostat = ierr)
+    if (ierr .ne. 0) call neko_error("Error while opening " // trim(this%fname))
     rewind(file_unit)
 
     n = 0