diff --git a/src/utils/misc.py b/src/utils/misc.py
index b4f4969..e5342c4 100644
--- a/src/utils/misc.py
+++ b/src/utils/misc.py
@@ -77,9 +77,13 @@ def hms(seconds: int):
 
 def load_template(path, scale_factor: float = 1.0, alpha: bool = False):
     if os.path.isfile(path):
-        template_img = cv2.imread(path, cv2.IMREAD_UNCHANGED) if alpha else cv2.imread(path)
-        template_img = cv2.resize(template_img, None, fx=scale_factor, fy=scale_factor, interpolation=cv2.INTER_NEAREST)
-        return template_img
+        try:
+            template_img = cv2.imread(path, cv2.IMREAD_UNCHANGED) if alpha else cv2.imread(path)
+            template_img = cv2.resize(template_img, None, fx=scale_factor, fy=scale_factor, interpolation=cv2.INTER_NEAREST)
+            return template_img
+        except Exception as e:
+            print(e)
+            raise ValueError(f"Could not load template: {path}")
     return None
 
 def alpha_to_mask(img: np.ndarray):
diff --git a/test/utils/misc_test.py b/test/utils/misc_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e5c025b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/utils/misc_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+import pytest
+from logger import Logger
+from utils.misc import load_template
+
+
+class TestUtilsMisc:
+    def setup_method(self):
+        Logger.init()
+        Logger.remove_file_logger()
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("path, should_be_success", [
+        ("test/assets/hero_select.png", True),
+        ("some/random/path/that/not/a/file.png", False),
+    ])
+    def test_load_template(self, path: str, should_be_success: bool):
+        template_img = load_template(path, 1.0, alpha=True)
+        success = template_img is not None
+        assert(success == should_be_success)