diff --git a/validator/accounts/v2/accounts_import.go b/validator/accounts/v2/accounts_import.go
index 3d905abcb..3260baa87 100644
--- a/validator/accounts/v2/accounts_import.go
+++ b/validator/accounts/v2/accounts_import.go
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ func ImportAccount(cliCtx *cli.Context) error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "could not read dir")
 		}
+		if len(files) == 0 {
+			return fmt.Errorf("directory %s has no files, cannot import from it", keysDir)
+		}
 		for i := 0; i < len(files); i++ {
 			if files[i].IsDir() {
 				continue