diff --git a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
index 990ec2342c..6be08ad482 100644
--- a/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
+++ b/gtk2_ardour/sfdb_ui.cc
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ SoundFileBox::setup_labels (const string& filename)
 
 	string error_msg;
 
-	if (SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (path)) {
+	if (SMFSource::valid_midi_file (path)) {
 
 		boost::shared_ptr<SMFSource> ms =
 			boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<SMFSource> (
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ SoundFileBox::audition ()
 
 	boost::shared_ptr<Region> r;
 
-	if (SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (path)) {
+	if (SMFSource::valid_midi_file (path)) {
 
 		boost::shared_ptr<SMFSource> ms =
 			boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<SMFSource> (
@@ -1326,7 +1326,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::reset_options ()
 
 	/* See if we are thinking about importing any MIDI files */
 	vector<string>::iterator i = paths.begin ();
-	while (i != paths.end() && SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (*i) == false) {
+	while (i != paths.end() && SMFSource::valid_midi_file (*i) == false) {
 		++i;
 	}
 	bool const have_a_midi_file = (i != paths.end ());
@@ -1554,7 +1554,7 @@ SoundFileOmega::check_info (const vector<string>& paths, bool& same_size, bool&
 				src_needed = true;
 			}
 
-		} else if (SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (*i)) {
+		} else if (SMFSource::valid_midi_file (*i)) {
 
 			Evoral::SMF reader;
 			reader.open(*i);
diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/smf_source.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/smf_source.h
index f30649c571..93adfd71f9 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/smf_source.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/smf_source.h
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ public:
 	void ensure_disk_file ();
 
 	static bool safe_midi_file_extension (const std::string& path);
+	static bool valid_midi_file (const std::string& path);
 
 	void prevent_deletion ();
 
diff --git a/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc b/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
index 17171a5259..f6168f9d9b 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
+++ b/libs/ardour/smf_source.cc
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include <glibmm/fileutils.h>
 
 #include "evoral/Control.hpp"
+#include "evoral/evoral/SMF.hpp"
 
 #include "ardour/event_type_map.h"
 #include "ardour/midi_model.h"
@@ -49,6 +50,7 @@
 using namespace ARDOUR;
 using namespace Glib;
 using namespace PBD;
+using namespace Evoral;
 
 /** Constructor used for new internal-to-session files.  File cannot exist. */
 SMFSource::SMFSource (Session& s, const string& path, Source::Flag flags)
@@ -497,6 +499,15 @@ SMFSource::mark_midi_streaming_write_completed (Evoral::Sequence<Evoral::Musical
 	mark_nonremovable ();
 }
 
+bool
+SMFSource::valid_midi_file (const string& file)
+{
+	if (safe_midi_file_extension (file) ) {
+		return (SMF::test (file) );
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 bool
 SMFSource::safe_midi_file_extension (const string& file)
 {
diff --git a/libs/evoral/evoral/SMF.hpp b/libs/evoral/evoral/SMF.hpp
index 91bc928d9a..fe81b8f044 100644
--- a/libs/evoral/evoral/SMF.hpp
+++ b/libs/evoral/evoral/SMF.hpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ public:
 	SMF() : _smf(0), _smf_track(0), _empty(true) {};
 	virtual ~SMF();
 
+	static bool test(const std::string& path);
 	int  open(const std::string& path, int track=1) THROW_FILE_ERROR;
 	int  create(const std::string& path, int track=1, uint16_t ppqn=19200) THROW_FILE_ERROR;
 	void close() THROW_FILE_ERROR;
diff --git a/libs/evoral/src/SMF.cpp b/libs/evoral/src/SMF.cpp
index 51ccda583e..dc3512a0f6 100644
--- a/libs/evoral/src/SMF.cpp
+++ b/libs/evoral/src/SMF.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,28 @@ SMF::seek_to_track(int track)
 	}
 }
 
+/** Attempt to open the SMF file just to see if it is valid.
+ *
+ * \return  true on success
+ *          false on failure
+ */
+bool
+SMF::test(const std::string& path)
+{
+	PBD::StdioFileDescriptor d (path, "r");
+	FILE* f = d.allocate ();
+	if (f == 0) {
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	smf_t* test_smf;
+	if ((test_smf = smf_load (f)) == NULL) {
+		return false;
+	}
+	smf_delete (test_smf);
+	return true;
+}
+
 /** Attempt to open the SMF file for reading and/or writing.
  *
  * \return  0 on success