diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 89d5d7d..8903c0e 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -104,6 +104,14 @@ func milkbucket(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	defer sdl.Quit()
 
 	presets := getPresets()
+	for _, p := range presets {
+		info, err := os.Stat(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		} else if info.IsDir() {
+			panic("preset " + p + " is a directory")
+		}
+	}
 
 	m, err := newMilkDropWindow(800, 600, presets)
 	if err != nil {