diff --git a/imgutil/imgutil b/imgutil/imgutil
index a4bbb3d0..57e5539b 100644
--- a/imgutil/imgutil
+++ b/imgutil/imgutil
@@ -1206,7 +1206,14 @@ def recursecp(source, targ):
 def pack_image(args):
     outdir = args.profilename
     if '/' in outdir:
-        raise Exception('Full path not supported, supply only the profile name')
+        raise Exception('Full path not supported, supply only the profile name\n')
+    if args.baseprofile:
+        baseprofiledir = args.baseprofile
+        if '/' not in args.baseprofile:
+            baseprofiledir = os.path.join('/var/lib/confluent/public/os', args.baseprofile)
+        if not os.path.exists(baseprofiledir):
+            sys.stderr.write('Specified base profile "{0}" does not seem to exist\n'.format(baseprofiledir))
+            sys.exit(1)
     privdir = os.path.join('/var/lib/confluent/private/os/', outdir)
     outdir = os.path.join('/var/lib/confluent/public/os/', outdir)
     if os.path.exists(outdir):