diff --git a/apps/launcher/maindialog.cpp b/apps/launcher/maindialog.cpp
index 8cc476f53..10a3f015a 100644
--- a/apps/launcher/maindialog.cpp
+++ b/apps/launcher/maindialog.cpp
@@ -612,8 +612,21 @@ void MainDialog::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event)
 
 void MainDialog::play()
 {
-    if (!writeSettings())
+    if (!writeSettings()) {
         qApp->quit();
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if(!mGameSettings.hasMaster()) {
+            QMessageBox msgBox;
+            msgBox.setWindowTitle(tr("No master file selected"));
+            msgBox.setIcon(QMessageBox::Warning);
+            msgBox.setStandardButtons(QMessageBox::Ok);
+            msgBox.setText(tr("<br><b>You do not have any master files selected.</b><br><br> \
+                              OpenMW will not start without a master file selected.<br>"));
+            msgBox.exec();
+            return;
+    }
 
     // Launch the game detached
     startProgram(QString("openmw"), true);
diff --git a/apps/launcher/settings/gamesettings.hpp b/apps/launcher/settings/gamesettings.hpp
index 7a17ef9af..55b2107e2 100644
--- a/apps/launcher/settings/gamesettings.hpp
+++ b/apps/launcher/settings/gamesettings.hpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ public:
     inline QStringList getDataDirs() { return mDataDirs; }
     inline void addDataDir(const QString &dir) { if(!dir.isEmpty()) mDataDirs.append(dir); }
     inline QString getDataLocal() {return mDataLocal; }
+    inline bool hasMaster() { return mSettings.count(QString("master")) > 0; }
 
     QStringList values(const QString &key, const QStringList &defaultValues = QStringList());
     bool readFile(QTextStream &stream);