diff --git a/src/apps/deskflow-daemon/DaemonApp.cpp b/src/apps/deskflow-daemon/DaemonApp.cpp
index 246e74651..53a52405d 100644
--- a/src/apps/deskflow-daemon/DaemonApp.cpp
+++ b/src/apps/deskflow-daemon/DaemonApp.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <QCoreApplication>
+#include <QFileInfo>
 #include <QSettings>
 
 using namespace deskflow::core;
@@ -61,6 +62,11 @@ void DaemonApp::applyWatchdogCommand() const
     return;
   }
 
+  if (!QFileInfo::exists(m_configFile)) {
+    LOG_ERR("cannot apply watchdog command: config file does not exist: %s", qPrintable(m_configFile));
+    return;
+  }
+
   QSettings config(m_configFile, QSettings::IniFormat);
   const auto coreMode = config.value(Settings::Core::CoreMode).toInt();
   const auto elevate = config.value(Settings::Daemon::Elevate, !Settings::isPortableMode()).toBool();