diff --git a/src/Gui/View3DInventor.cpp b/src/Gui/View3DInventor.cpp
index cf59a9e60..5b7ca50f5 100644
--- a/src/Gui/View3DInventor.cpp
+++ b/src/Gui/View3DInventor.cpp
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
 # include <QGLFormat>
 # include <QGLWidget>
 # include <QGLPixelBuffer>
+# include <QMessageBox>
 # include <QPainter>
 # include <QPrinter>
 # include <QPrintDialog>
@@ -531,6 +532,13 @@ void View3DInventor::print(QPrinter* printer)
 #else
     QImage img;
     QPainter p(printer);
+    if (!p.isActive() && !printer->outputFileName().isEmpty()) {
+        qApp->setOverrideCursor(Qt::ArrowCursor);
+        QMessageBox::critical(this, tr("Opening file failed"),
+            tr("Can't open file '%1' for writing.").arg(printer->outputFileName()));
+        qApp->restoreOverrideCursor();
+        return;
+    }
     QRect rect = printer->pageRect();
 
     bool pbuffer = QGLPixelBuffer::hasOpenGLPbuffers();
diff --git a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/DrawingView.cpp b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/DrawingView.cpp
index 64d83fd8d..3cbf54648 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/DrawingView.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Drawing/Gui/DrawingView.cpp
@@ -593,6 +593,13 @@ void DrawingView::print(QPrinter* printer)
     }
 
     QPainter p(printer);
+    if (!p.isActive() && !printer->outputFileName().isEmpty()) {
+        qApp->setOverrideCursor(Qt::ArrowCursor);
+        QMessageBox::critical(this, tr("Opening file failed"),
+            tr("Can't open file '%1' for writing.").arg(printer->outputFileName()));
+        qApp->restoreOverrideCursor();
+        return;
+    }
     QRect rect = printer->paperRect();
 #ifdef Q_OS_WIN32
     // On Windows the preview looks broken when using paperRect as render area.