diff --git a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Frame.cpp b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Frame.cpp
index f0fefe09ed..639b6deecd 100644
--- a/libraries/SITL/SIM_Frame.cpp
+++ b/libraries/SITL/SIM_Frame.cpp
@@ -333,6 +333,9 @@ void Frame::load_frame_params(const char *model_json)
         fname = strdup(model_json);
     } else {
         IGNORE_RETURN(asprintf(&fname, "@ROMFS/models/%s", model_json));
+        if (AP::FS().stat(model_json, &st) != 0) {
+            AP_HAL::panic("%s failed to load\n", model_json);
+        }
     }
     if (fname == nullptr) {
         AP_HAL::panic("%s failed to load\n", model_json);