diff --git a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
index 13432dc5..9943b697 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
@@ -54,7 +54,13 @@ class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 		return self.__name
 	
 	def read(self):
-		return ConfigReader.read(self, "jail")
+		out = ConfigReader.read(self, "jail")
+		# Before returning -- verify that requested section
+		# exists at all
+		if not (self.__name in self.sections()):
+			raise ValueError("Jail %r was not found among available"
+							 % self.__name)
+		return out
 	
 	def isEnabled(self):
 		return self.__force_enable or self.__opts["enabled"]
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index 5e79dc04..e55420d8 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -107,6 +107,10 @@ option = %s
 
 class JailReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 
+	def testIncorrectJail(self):
+		jail = JailReader('XXXABSENTXXX', basedir=CONFIG_DIR)
+		self.assertRaises(ValueError, jail.read)
+
 	def testStockSSHJail(self):
 		jail = JailReader('ssh-iptables', basedir=CONFIG_DIR) # we are running tests from root project dir atm
 		self.assertTrue(jail.read())