diff --git a/LaunchScript/VirtualAcousticsStarterServer.py b/LaunchScript/VirtualAcousticsStarterServer.py
index d5f681764d01b2a3a5e5713300f9ec08a1c36224..3bedbb2b8dfecd68f049ecad8c3db67e66e3fb32 100644
--- a/LaunchScript/VirtualAcousticsStarterServer.py
+++ b/LaunchScript/VirtualAcousticsStarterServer.py
@@ -428,9 +428,12 @@ class VirtualAcousticsLauncher:
       if iLocalFileLastModification<iLastModificationTime:
         bNewerFileExists = True
 
+    iLocalFileSize = 0
+    if os.path.isfile(Fullpath+Filename):
+      iLocalFileSize = os.stat(Fullpath+Filename).st_size
+
     #check whether the file with this exact size (which is not older than the file to send) already exists
-    iLocalFileSize = os.stat(Fullpath+Filename).st_size
-    if os.path.isfile(Fullpath+Filename) and iLocalFileSize == iBytesToReceive and not bNewerFileExists :
+    if iLocalFileSize == iBytesToReceive and not bNewerFileExists :
       self.oLauncherConnection.send( b'exists' )
       print("File already exists (same size, and more recent modification time), so no need for resending")