diff --git a/include/linuxdeploy/core/desktopfile.h b/include/linuxdeploy/core/desktopfile.h
index 23bc72d..385bdea 100644
--- a/include/linuxdeploy/core/desktopfile.h
+++ b/include/linuxdeploy/core/desktopfile.h
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ namespace linuxdeploy {
                     DesktopFile();
 
                     // construct from existing desktop file
-                    // file must exist, otherwise std::runtime_error is thrown
+                    // if the file exists, it will be read using DesktopFileReader
+                    // if reading fails, exceptions will be thrown (see DesktopFileReader for more information)
                     explicit DesktopFile(const boost::filesystem::path& path);
 
                     // construct by reading an existing stream
diff --git a/src/core/desktopfile.cpp b/src/core/desktopfile.cpp
index 40258a4..1f17a25 100644
--- a/src/core/desktopfile.cpp
+++ b/src/core/desktopfile.cpp
@@ -36,8 +36,10 @@ namespace linuxdeploy {
             DesktopFile::DesktopFile() : d(std::make_shared<PrivateData>()) {}
 
             DesktopFile::DesktopFile(const bf::path& path) : DesktopFile() {
-                // will throw exceptions in case of issues
-                read(path);
+                if (bf::exists(path)) {
+                    // will throw exceptions in case of issues
+                    read(path);
+                }
             };
 
             DesktopFile::DesktopFile(std::istream& is) : DesktopFile() {
diff --git a/tests/core/test_desktopfile.cpp b/tests/core/test_desktopfile.cpp
index 09c86d2..afdcbcf 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_desktopfile.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/test_desktopfile.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ TEST_F(DesktopFileFixture, testDefaultConstructor) {
 }
 
 TEST_F(DesktopFileFixture, testPathConstructor) {
-    EXPECT_THROW(DesktopFile("/a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8"), std::invalid_argument);
+    DesktopFile nonExistingPath("/a/b/c/d/e/f/g/h/1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8");
+    EXPECT_TRUE(nonExistingPath.isEmpty());
 
     DesktopFile emptyFile("/dev/null");
     EXPECT_TRUE(emptyFile.isEmpty());