diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -477,6 +477,11 @@
 
     // If datadir is changed in .conf file:
     ClearDatadirCache();
+    if (!fs::is_directory(GetDataDir(false))) {
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+            strprintf("specified data directory \"%s\" does not exist.",
+                      gArgs.GetArg("-datadir", "").c_str()));
+    }
 }
 
 std::string ArgsManager::GetChainName() const {