diff --git a/game_shared/bot/nav_file.cpp b/game_shared/bot/nav_file.cpp
index 5e47ee5..67971d4 100644
--- a/game_shared/bot/nav_file.cpp
+++ b/game_shared/bot/nav_file.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ public:
 	}
 
 	/// load the directory
-	void Load( SteamFile *file )
+	bool Load( SteamFile *file )
 	{
 		// read number of entries
 		EntryType count;
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ public:
 			if ( len >= sizeof( placeName ) )
 			{
 				assert( false && "PlaceDirectory::Load: Invalid placeName size" );
-				return;
+				return false;
 			}
 
 			file->Read( placeName, len );
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ public:
 
 			AddPlace( TheBotPhrases->NameToID( placeName ) );
 		}
+
+		return true;
 	}
 
 private:
@@ -1020,7 +1022,11 @@ NavErrorType LoadNavigationMap( void )
 	// load Place directory
 	if (version >= 5)
 	{
-		placeDirectory.Load( &navFile );
+		if ( !placeDirectory.Load( &navFile ) )
+		{
+			CONSOLE_ECHO( "ERROR: Invalid navigation file '%s'.\n", filename );
+			return NAV_INVALID_FILE;
+		}
 	}
 
 	// get number of areas