diff --git a/builtin/init.lua b/builtin/init.lua
index 75bb3db85..89b1fdc64 100644
--- a/builtin/init.lua
+++ b/builtin/init.lua
@@ -39,9 +39,20 @@ if INIT == "game" then
 	assert(not core.get_http_api)
 elseif INIT == "mainmenu" then
 	local mm_script = core.settings:get("main_menu_script")
+	local custom_loaded = false
 	if mm_script and mm_script ~= "" then
-		dofile(mm_script)
-	else
+		local testfile = io.open(mm_script, "r")
+		if testfile then
+			testfile:close()
+			dofile(mm_script)
+			custom_loaded = true
+			core.log("info", "Loaded custom main menu script: "..mm_script)
+		else
+			core.log("error", "Failed to load custom main menu script: "..mm_script)
+			core.log("info", "Falling back to default main menu script")
+		end
+	end
+	if not custom_loaded then
 		dofile(core.get_mainmenu_path() .. DIR_DELIM .. "init.lua")
 	end
 elseif INIT == "async" then