diff --git a/taglib/mp4/mp4file.cpp b/taglib/mp4/mp4file.cpp
index 3c996d1b..21a5429b 100644
--- a/taglib/mp4/mp4file.cpp
+++ b/taglib/mp4/mp4file.cpp
@@ -113,6 +113,13 @@ MP4::File::read(bool readProperties, Properties::ReadStyle audioPropertiesStyle)
     return;
   }
 
+  // must have a moov atom, otherwise consider it invalid
+  MP4::Atom *moov = d->atoms->find("moov");
+  if(!moov) {
+    setValid(false);
+    return;
+  }
+
   d->tag = new Tag(this, d->atoms);
   if(readProperties) {
     d->properties = new Properties(this, d->atoms, audioPropertiesStyle);
diff --git a/tests/test_mp4.cpp b/tests/test_mp4.cpp
index a5b301bc..ce6f1897 100644
--- a/tests/test_mp4.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_mp4.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class TestMP4 : public CppUnit::TestFixture
   CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE(TestMP4);
   CPPUNIT_TEST(testProperties);
   CPPUNIT_TEST(testFreeForm);
+  CPPUNIT_TEST(testCheckValid);
   CPPUNIT_TEST(testUpdateStco);
   CPPUNIT_TEST(testSaveExisingWhenIlstIsLast);
   CPPUNIT_TEST(test64BitAtom);
@@ -36,6 +37,14 @@ public:
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_EQUAL(16, ((MP4::Properties *)f.audioProperties())->bitsPerSample());
   }
 
+  void testCheckValid()
+  {
+    MP4::File f("data/empty.aiff");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(!f.isValid());
+    MP4::File f2("data/has-tags.m4a");
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT(f2.isValid());
+  }
+
   void testUpdateStco()
   {
     ScopedFileCopy copy("no-tags", ".3g2");