diff --git a/bilby/core/sampler/kombine.py b/bilby/core/sampler/kombine.py
index 1f09387cc33520a7c8408db7cd7af2a924fa85cf..b11a9cec4564015642ce65abeae19a2519b8fbf2 100644
--- a/bilby/core/sampler/kombine.py
+++ b/bilby/core/sampler/kombine.py
@@ -165,7 +165,11 @@ class Kombine(Emcee):
         return self.sampler.chain[:nsteps, :, :]
 
     def check_resume(self):
-        return self.resume and os.path.isfile(self.checkpoint_info.sampler_file)
+        return (
+            self.resume and
+            os.path.isfile(self.checkpoint_info.sampler_file) and
+            os.path.getsize(self.checkpoint_info.sampler_file) > 0
+        )
 
     @signal_wrapper
     def run_sampler(self):