diff --git a/cli/cli.cc b/cli/cli.cc
index c347f3ffd..017f636ed 100644
--- a/cli/cli.cc
+++ b/cli/cli.cc
@@ -257,7 +257,8 @@ int tr_main(int argc, char* argv[])
 
     tr_ctorSetPaused(ctor, TR_FORCE, false);
 
-    if (tr_ctorSetMetainfoFromFile(ctor, torrentPath, nullptr) || tr_ctorSetMetainfoFromMagnetLink(ctor, torrentPath, nullptr))
+    if (tr_sys_path_exists(torrentPath) ? tr_ctorSetMetainfoFromFile(ctor, torrentPath, nullptr) :
+                                          tr_ctorSetMetainfoFromMagnetLink(ctor, torrentPath, nullptr))
     {
         // all good
     }