diff --git a/src/main/bash/sdkman-install.sh b/src/main/bash/sdkman-install.sh
index 8e4075f7..27d7a183 100644
--- a/src/main/bash/sdkman-install.sh
+++ b/src/main/bash/sdkman-install.sh
@@ -90,9 +90,15 @@ function __sdkman_install_local_version {
 		folder="$(pwd)/$folder"
 	fi
 
-	__sdkman_echo_green "Linking ${candidate} ${version} to ${folder}"
-	ln -s "$folder" "${SDKMAN_CANDIDATES_DIR}/${candidate}/${version}"
-	__sdkman_echo_green "Done installing!"
+	if [[ -d "$folder" ]]; then
+        __sdkman_echo_green "Linking ${candidate} ${version} to ${folder}"
+        ln -s "$folder" "${SDKMAN_CANDIDATES_DIR}/${candidate}/${version}"
+        __sdkman_echo_green "Done installing!"
+
+	else
+	    __sdkman_echo_red "Invalid path! Refusing to link ${candidate} ${version} to ${folder}."
+	fi
+
 	echo ""
 }
 
diff --git a/src/test/cucumber/local_developement_versions.feature b/src/test/cucumber/local_developement_versions.feature
index 04ed9b12..d165a903 100644
--- a/src/test/cucumber/local_developement_versions.feature
+++ b/src/test/cucumber/local_developement_versions.feature
@@ -51,10 +51,17 @@ Feature: Local Development Versions
     Then I see "Using groovy version 2.1-SNAPSHOT in this shell"
     And the candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" should be in use
 
-  Scenario: Install a local development version from a relative path
+  Scenario: Install a local development version from a valid relative path
     Given the candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" is not available for download
     And I have a local candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" at relative path "some/relative/path/to/groovy"
     And the system is bootstrapped
     When I enter "sdk install groovy 2.1-SNAPSHOT some/relative/path/to/groovy"
     Then I see "Linking groovy 2.1-SNAPSHOT"
     And the candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" is linked to the relative path "some/relative/path/to/groovy"
+
+  Scenario: Prevent installation of a local development version for an invalid path
+    Given the candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" is not available for download
+    And the system is bootstrapped
+    When I enter "sdk install groovy 2.1-SNAPSHOT /some/bogus/path/to/groovy"
+    Then I see "Invalid path! Refusing to link groovy 2.1-SNAPSHOT to /some/bogus/path/to/groovy."
+    And the candidate "groovy" version "2.1-SNAPSHOT" is not installed