diff --git a/src/grib/gribParse.cpp b/src/grib/gribParse.cpp
index 61c6231..770162a 100644
--- a/src/grib/gribParse.cpp
+++ b/src/grib/gribParse.cpp
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <iostream>
 #include <chrono>
 #include <ctime>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 /**
  * Translates GRIB file into array of lattitudes, longitudes, and corresponding values
@@ -168,6 +169,14 @@ gribParse::gribParse(const std::string & filename, int time_steps, bool use_csvs
     fclose(in);
   }
 
+  // Check if output directory exists
+    std::ofstream outfile;
+    outfile.open(output_csvs_folder + "/testing123456");
+    outfile << "!";
+    if (!outfile) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("Output directory, " + output_csvs_folder + " does not exist.");
+    }
+
   // Write to output directory
   if (output_csvs_folder.size() > 0) {
     // Write to csv files