diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 1f575c5b..1a027221 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ v0.51.2		06-Mar-2004
 		sync calls.
 		In several menus that can change paths, a command to mbtask is
 		given to reread filesystem tables when something is changed.
+		Fixed error if a file area is deleted that has an empty files
+		database.
 
 	mbmon:
 		Switched to use new filesystems command.
diff --git a/mbsetup/m_farea.c b/mbsetup/m_farea.c
index 217d9325..686a8f55 100644
--- a/mbsetup/m_farea.c
+++ b/mbsetup/m_farea.c
@@ -371,12 +371,13 @@ int EditFileRec(int Area)
 			     * Attempt to disable this area, but check first.
 			     */
 			    if ((fp = fopen(temp, "r"))) {
-				fread(&fdbhdr, sizeof(fdbhdr), 1, fp);
-				fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_END);
-				files = ((ftell(fp) - fdbhdr.hdrsize) / fdbhdr.recsize);
-				if (files) {
-				    errmsg("There are stil %d files in this area", files);
-				    Available = TRUE;
+				if (fread(&fdbhdr, sizeof(fdbhdr), 1, fp) == 1) {
+				    fseek(fp, 0, SEEK_END);
+				    files = ((ftell(fp) - fdbhdr.hdrsize) / fdbhdr.recsize);
+				    if (files) {
+					errmsg("There are stil %d files in this area", files);
+					Available = TRUE;
+				    }
 				}
 				fclose(fp);
 			    }