diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index 8fea7aa5f..48cdea9d5 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -293,6 +293,7 @@ def _setRequestFromFile():
     if conf.requestFile:
         for requestFile in re.split(PARAMETER_SPLITTING_REGEX, conf.requestFile):
             requestFile = safeExpandUser(requestFile)
+            url = None
             seen = set()
 
             if not checkFile(requestFile, False):
@@ -311,6 +312,11 @@ def _setRequestFromFile():
                         conf.multipleTargets = True
                     seen.add(url)
 
+            if url is None:
+                errMsg = "specified file '%s' " % requestFile
+                errMsg += "does not contain a valid HTTP request"
+                raise SqlmapDataException(errMsg)
+
     if conf.secondReq:
         conf.secondReq = safeExpandUser(conf.secondReq)
 
diff --git a/lib/core/settings.py b/lib/core/settings.py
index 71f50d443..c00567d75 100644
--- a/lib/core/settings.py
+++ b/lib/core/settings.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from lib.core.enums import OS
 from thirdparty.six import unichr as _unichr
 
 # sqlmap version (<major>.<minor>.<month>.<monthly commit>)
-VERSION = "1.3.7.42"
+VERSION = "1.3.7.43"
 TYPE = "dev" if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] != '0' else "stable"
 TYPE_COLORS = {"dev": 33, "stable": 90, "pip": 34}
 VERSION_STRING = "sqlmap/%s#%s" % ('.'.join(VERSION.split('.')[:-1]) if VERSION.count('.') > 2 and VERSION.split('.')[-1] == '0' else VERSION, TYPE)