diff --git a/host/hackrf-tools/src/hackrf_transfer.c b/host/hackrf-tools/src/hackrf_transfer.c
index 489f7dfa..c3680263 100644
--- a/host/hackrf-tools/src/hackrf_transfer.c
+++ b/host/hackrf-tools/src/hackrf_transfer.c
@@ -513,8 +513,15 @@ int tx_callback(hackrf_transfer* transfer)
 		/* Read samples from file. */
 		bytes_read = fread(transfer->buffer, 1, bytes_to_read, file);
 
-		/* If no more bytes, error or file empty, treat as end. */
-		if (bytes_read == 0) {
+		/* Terminate immediately on error. */
+		if (ferror(file)) {
+			fprintf(stderr, "Could not read input file.\n");
+			stop_main_loop();
+			return -1;
+		}
+
+		/* Finish TX if no more data can be read. */
+		if ((bytes_read == 0) && (ftell(file) < 1)) {
 			tx_complete = true;
 			return 0;
 		}