diff --git a/jrnl/Journal.py b/jrnl/Journal.py
index 374b8a6d..3b0ccb6d 100644
--- a/jrnl/Journal.py
+++ b/jrnl/Journal.py
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ class Journal:
         if not cipher:
             return ""
         crypto = AES.new(self.key, AES.MODE_CBC, cipher[:16])
-        plain = crypto.decrypt(cipher[16:])
+        try:
+            plain = crypto.decrypt(cipher[16:])
+        except ValueError:
+            print("ERROR: Your journal file seems to be corrupted. You do have a backup, don't you?")
+            sys.exit(-1)
         if plain[-1] != " ": # Journals are always padded
             return None
         else: