diff --git a/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/dss/generic/server/images/ImageChannelsUtils.java b/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/dss/generic/server/images/ImageChannelsUtils.java
index d5767f972be1faa43f9c6173384ebd2c27bbe724..3aef991f76238459fac8d35571d531d23610813a 100644
--- a/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/dss/generic/server/images/ImageChannelsUtils.java
+++ b/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/dss/generic/server/images/ImageChannelsUtils.java
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import ch.rinn.restrictions.Private;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.base.image.IImageTransformerFactory;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.bds.hcs.Location;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.common.exceptions.EnvironmentFailureException;
+import ch.systemsx.cisd.common.exceptions.UserFailureException;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.common.io.ByteArrayBasedContent;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.common.io.IContent;
 import ch.systemsx.cisd.common.logging.LogCategory;
@@ -130,6 +131,10 @@ public class ImageChannelsUtils
                 }
             }
         }
+        if (image == null)
+        {
+            throw new UserFailureException("No image is available for parameters: " + params);
+        }
         return createResponseContentStream(image, null);
     }