diff --git a/autodist-upstream-updates b/autodist-upstream-updates
index a83e922..33dc52d 100755
--- a/autodist-upstream-updates
+++ b/autodist-upstream-updates
@@ -24,16 +24,6 @@ XORG_RELEASE=current
       done
 }
 
-[ -r $PKGLIST_FILE ] || {
-   echo "Error: file $PKGLIST_FILE cannot be read; aborting." >&2
-   exit 1
-}
-
-[ -r $ALIASES_DB ] || {
-   echo "Error: file $ALIASES_DB cannot be read; aborting." >&2
-   exit 1
-}
-
 function usage() 
 {
    echo "openmamba-upstream-updates - finds upstream packages updates from different internet resources"
@@ -168,6 +158,15 @@ UPDATES_DB=$CACHE_DIR/upstream-updates
 ALIASES_DB=$CACHE_DIR/aliases
 MANUALVER_DB=$CACHE_DIR/manualver
 
+[ -s $PKGLIST_FILE ] || {
+   echo "Error: file $PKGLIST_FILE is missing or empty; aborting." >&2
+   exit 1
+}
+
+[ -r $ALIASES_DB ] || {
+   echo "Error: file $ALIASES_DB cannot be read; aborting." >&2
+   exit 1
+}
 
 parse_arch_linux() {
    # parse Arch Linux package list