diff --git a/mmdebstrap b/mmdebstrap
index 9cbc8e3..5c870bb 100755
--- a/mmdebstrap
+++ b/mmdebstrap
@@ -4363,9 +4363,15 @@ sub main() {
                 if (!defined $pkg) {
                     error "cannot resolve absolute path of $pkg: $!";
                 }
+                if ($pkg !~ /^\//) {
+                    error "absolute path of $pkg doesn't start with a slash";
+                }
                 if (!-f $pkg) {
                     error "$pkg is not an existing file";
                 }
+                if (!-r $pkg) {
+                    error "$pkg is not readable";
+                }
                 return $pkg;
             };
             if ($opt_value =~ /^[?~!(]/) {