diff --git a/audio/audio_hw.c b/audio/audio_hw.c
index 1ede8e19..bd156343 100644
--- a/audio/audio_hw.c
+++ b/audio/audio_hw.c
@@ -540,6 +540,11 @@ static int mixer_init(struct audio_device *adev)
             } while (mixer == NULL);
 
             sprintf(mixer_path, "/system/etc/mixer_paths_%d.xml", card);
+            if (access(mixer_path, F_OK) == -1) {
+                ALOGE("%s: Failed to load mixer paths from %s, your system is going to crash",
+                      __func__, mixer_path);
+            }
+
             audio_route = audio_route_init(card, mixer_path);
             if (!audio_route) {
                 ALOGE("%s: Failed to init audio route controls for card %d, aborting.",