diff --git a/src/ytdl_sub/config/preset_options.py b/src/ytdl_sub/config/preset_options.py
index 2f9e75df..93f36453 100644
--- a/src/ytdl_sub/config/preset_options.py
+++ b/src/ytdl_sub/config/preset_options.py
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ from ytdl_sub.config.overrides import Overrides
 from ytdl_sub.config.plugin.plugin_operation import PluginOperation
 from ytdl_sub.config.validators.options import OptionsDictValidator
 from ytdl_sub.entries.script.variable_definitions import VARIABLES as v
+from ytdl_sub.utils.exceptions import SubscriptionPermissionError
+from ytdl_sub.utils.exceptions import ValidationException
+from ytdl_sub.utils.file_handler import FileHandler
 from ytdl_sub.validators.file_path_validators import OverridesStringFormatterFilePathValidator
 from ytdl_sub.validators.file_path_validators import StringFormatterFileNameValidator
 from ytdl_sub.validators.string_datetime import StringDatetimeValidator
@@ -57,12 +60,24 @@ class YTDLOptions(UnstructuredOverridesDictFormatterValidator):
     def to_native_dict(self, overrides: Overrides) -> Dict:
         """
         Materializes the entire ytdl-options dict from OverrideStringFormatters into
-        native python
+        native python.
         """
-        return {
+        out = {
             key: overrides.apply_overrides_formatter_to_native(val)
             for key, val in self.dict.items()
         }
+        if "cookiefile" in out:
+            if not FileHandler.is_file_existent(out["cookiefile"]):
+                raise ValidationException(
+                    f"Specified cookiefile {out['cookiefile']} but it does not exist as a file."
+                )
+
+            if not FileHandler.is_file_readable(out["cookiefile"]):
+                raise SubscriptionPermissionError(
+                    f"Cannot read cookiefile {out['cookiefile']} due to permissions issue."
+                )
+
+        return out
 
 
 # Disable for proper docstring formatting
diff --git a/src/ytdl_sub/utils/file_handler.py b/src/ytdl_sub/utils/file_handler.py
index 002cac44..1db4bb6c 100644
--- a/src/ytdl_sub/utils/file_handler.py
+++ b/src/ytdl_sub/utils/file_handler.py
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class FileHandler:
 
     @classmethod
     def is_path_writable(cls, src_file_path: Union[str, Path]) -> bool:
-        """"
+        """
         Check whether a path is writable. If it does not exist, try to find the base directory
         and check permissions on that.
         """
@@ -395,6 +395,20 @@ class FileHandler:
 
         return os.access(path, os.W_OK)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def is_file_existent(cls, file_path: Union[str, Path]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check whether a file exists.
+        """
+        return os.path.isfile(file_path)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def is_file_readable(cls, file_path: Union[str, Path]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check whether a file exists and is readable.
+        """
+        return cls.is_file_existent(file_path) and os.access(file_path, os.R_OK)
+
     @classmethod
     def copy(cls, src_file_path: Union[str, Path], dst_file_path: Union[str, Path]):
         """
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/test_ytdl_options.py b/tests/unit/plugins/test_ytdl_options.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bfeb0ef1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/test_ytdl_options.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+import re
+from typing import Any
+from typing import Dict
+
+import pytest
+from conftest import get_match_filters
+
+from ytdl_sub.config.config_file import ConfigFile
+from ytdl_sub.subscriptions.subscription import Subscription
+from ytdl_sub.utils.exceptions import ValidationException
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def preset_dict(output_directory) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    return {
+        "download": "https://your.name.here",
+        "output_options": {"output_directory": output_directory, "file_name": "will_error.mp4"},
+    }
+
+
+class TestYtdlOptions:
+    def test_cookiefile_does_not_exist(
+        self,
+        default_config: ConfigFile,
+        preset_dict: Dict[str, Any],
+    ):
+        preset_dict["ytdl_options"] = {
+            "cookiefile": "/path/to/nowhere",
+        }
+
+        error_msg = "Specified cookiefile /path/to/nowhere but it does not exist as a file."
+
+        with pytest.raises(ValidationException, match=re.escape(error_msg)):
+            Subscription.from_dict(
+                config=default_config,
+                preset_name="test_ytdl_options",
+                preset_dict=preset_dict,
+            ).download(dry_run=False)