diff --git a/src/sim/Workload.py b/src/sim/Workload.py
index 50625e8085..3e0c9a6e85 100644
--- a/src/sim/Workload.py
+++ b/src/sim/Workload.py
@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ class SEWorkload(Workload, metaclass=SEWorkloadMeta):
         from _m5 import object_file
 
         obj = object_file.create(path)
+
+        if obj is None:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"{path}: the file is not an object file compatible with gem5."
+            )
+
         options = list(
             filter(
                 lambda wld: wld._is_compatible_with(obj),