diff --git a/nfq/hostlist.c b/nfq/hostlist.c
index 3de71b7a..5518f712 100644
--- a/nfq/hostlist.c
+++ b/nfq/hostlist.c
@@ -287,11 +287,13 @@ static struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist_(struct hostlist_files_head *hostl
 }
 struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist(struct desync_profile *dp, bool bExclude, const char *filename)
 {
+/*
 	if (filename && !file_mod_time(filename))
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("cannot access hostlist file '%s'\n",filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
+*/
 	return RegisterHostlist_(
 		&params.hostlists,
 		bExclude ? &dp->hl_collection_exclude : &dp->hl_collection,
diff --git a/nfq/nfqws.c b/nfq/nfqws.c
index a6dcbef8..16c1850f 100644
--- a/nfq/nfqws.c
+++ b/nfq/nfqws.c
@@ -2887,6 +2887,9 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 #endif
 	}
 
+	if (!test_list_files())
+		exit_clean(1);
+
 	if (!LoadAllHostLists())
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("hostlists load failed\n");
diff --git a/tpws/hostlist.c b/tpws/hostlist.c
index 08a9d2f3..b1bc8fdd 100644
--- a/tpws/hostlist.c
+++ b/tpws/hostlist.c
@@ -287,11 +287,13 @@ static struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist_(struct hostlist_files_head *hostl
 }
 struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist(struct desync_profile *dp, bool bExclude, const char *filename)
 {
+/*
 	if (filename && !file_mod_time(filename))
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("cannot access hostlist file '%s'\n",filename);
 		return NULL;
 	}
+*/
 	return RegisterHostlist_(
 		&params.hostlists,
 		bExclude ? &dp->hl_collection_exclude : &dp->hl_collection,
diff --git a/tpws/tpws.c b/tpws/tpws.c
index 0a353bce..0b769d94 100644
--- a/tpws/tpws.c
+++ b/tpws/tpws.c
@@ -1638,6 +1638,9 @@ void parse_params(int argc, char *argv[])
 	}
 #endif
 
+	if (!test_list_files())
+		exit_clean(1);
+
 	if (!LoadAllHostLists())
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("hostlists load failed\n");