diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
index 74d14ea..6744d16 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/Time/Time.C
@@ -185,6 +185,16 @@ void Foam::Time::setControls()
     setTime(startTime_, 0);
 
     readDict();
+
+    // check if time folder exists
+    if (!exists(timePath(), false))
+    {
+        IOWarningIn("Time::setControls()", controlDict_)
+            << "Start time folder '" << timeName() << "' not found." << nl
+            << "This is likely due to an incompatible setting for"
+            << " 'timePrecision', 'timeFormat', or it's a user made folder.";
+    }
+
     deltaTSave_ = deltaT_;
     deltaT0_ = deltaT_;