diff --git a/zathura.c b/zathura.c
index 80bf2fb..4aa5d71 100644
--- a/zathura.c
+++ b/zathura.c
@@ -501,6 +501,7 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password)
     goto error_out;
   }
 
+  gchar* file_uri = NULL;
   zathura_error_t error = ZATHURA_ERROR_OK;
   zathura_document_t* document = zathura_document_open(zathura->plugins.manager, path, password, &error);
 
@@ -527,6 +528,12 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password)
   const char* file_path        = zathura_document_get_path(document);
   unsigned int number_of_pages = zathura_document_get_number_of_pages(document);
 
+  if (number_of_pages == 0) {
+    girara_notify(zathura->ui.session, GIRARA_WARNING,
+        _("Document does not contain any pages"));
+    goto error_free;
+  }
+
   /* read history file */
   zathura_fileinfo_t file_info = { 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 };
   bool known_file = zathura_db_get_fileinfo(zathura->database, file_path, &file_info);
@@ -592,7 +599,7 @@ document_open(zathura_t* zathura, const char* path, const char* password)
   }
 
   /* install file monitor */
-  gchar* file_uri = g_filename_to_uri(file_path, NULL, NULL);
+  file_uri = g_filename_to_uri(file_path, NULL, NULL);
   if (file_uri == NULL) {
     goto error_free;
   }