diff --git a/hw/fw_cfg.c b/hw/fw_cfg.c
index 8df265c..1125e7d 100644
--- a/hw/fw_cfg.c
+++ b/hw/fw_cfg.c
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ static FILE *probe_splashfile(char *filename, int *file_sizep, int *file_typep)
     if (file_type == BMP_FILE) {
         fseek(fp, 28, SEEK_SET);
         fop_ret = fread(buf, 1, 2, fp);
+        if (fop_ret != 2) {
+            error_report("Could not read bpp value from '%s': %s",
+                         filename, strerror(errno));
+            fclose(fp);
+            fp = NULL;
+            return fp;
+        }
         bmp_bpp = (buf[0] + (buf[1] << 8)) & 0xffff;
         if (bmp_bpp != 24) {
             error_report("only 24bpp bmp file is supported.");