diff --git a/worlds/oot/__init__.py b/worlds/oot/__init__.py
index 18b0f939..37b2e8c2 100644
--- a/worlds/oot/__init__.py
+++ b/worlds/oot/__init__.py
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ class OOTWorld(World):
         self.hint_data_available = threading.Event()
         super(OOTWorld, self).__init__(world, player)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def stage_generate_early(cls, world: MultiWorld):
+        # Check that an OoT ROM exists at the specified path. Raises exception on failure.
+        # We don't need the ROM until output, but we want to fail early if no ROM is provided.
+        rom = Rom(file=get_options()['oot_options']['rom_file'])
+        del rom
+
     def generate_early(self):
         # Player name MUST be at most 16 bytes ascii-encoded, otherwise won't write to ROM correctly
         if len(bytes(self.world.get_player_name(self.player), 'ascii')) > 16: