diff --git a/src/gui/FavoritesManager.cxx b/src/gui/FavoritesManager.cxx
index 2c30787f8..08ff3dad2 100644
--- a/src/gui/FavoritesManager.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/FavoritesManager.cxx
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@ void FavoritesManager::load()
     for(const auto& u : jUser)
     {
       const string& path = u.get<string>();
-      addUser(path);
+      FilesystemNode node(path);
+      if(node.exists())
+        addUser(path);
     }
   }
 
@@ -58,7 +60,9 @@ void FavoritesManager::load()
       for(const auto& r : jRecent)
       {
         const string& path = r.get<string>();
-        addRecent(path);
+        FilesystemNode node(path);
+        if(node.exists())
+          addRecent(path);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -73,7 +77,9 @@ void FavoritesManager::load()
     {
       const string& path = p[0].get<string>();
       const uInt32 count = p[1].get<uInt32>();
-      myPopularMap.emplace(path, count);
+      FilesystemNode node(path);
+      if(node.exists())
+        myPopularMap.emplace(path, count);
     }
   }
 }