diff --git a/src/sfizz/Tuning.cpp b/src/sfizz/Tuning.cpp
index 6926ba5f..4f14acb8 100644
--- a/src/sfizz/Tuning.cpp
+++ b/src/sfizz/Tuning.cpp
@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ bool Tuning::loadScalaFile(const fs::path& path)
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (scl.count <= 0) {
+        DBG("The scale file is empty: " << path);
+        return false;
+    }
+
     impl_->updateScale(scl, path);
     return true;
 }
@@ -194,6 +199,11 @@ bool Tuning::loadScalaString(const std::string& text)
         return false;
     }
 
+    if (scl.count <= 0) {
+        DBG("The scale file is empty: " << path);
+        return false;
+    }
+
     impl_->updateScale(scl);
     return true;
 }