diff --git a/lib/vm-core b/lib/vm-core
index 20975db..a38a30f 100644
--- a/lib/vm-core
+++ b/lib/vm-core
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ core::list(){
 
                 # check if the guest is running
                 if vm::running_check "_run" "_pid" "${_name}" || \
-                    [ -e "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" -a "$(head -n1 ${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock 2>/dev/null)" = "${_our_host}" ]; then
+                    [ -s "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" -a "$(head -n1 ${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock 2>/dev/null)" = "${_our_host}" ]; then
 
                     # if running and graphics, try to get vnc port
                     if config::yesno "graphics"; then
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ core::list(){
                 done
 
                 # if stopped, see if it's locked by another host
-                if [ "${_run}" = "Stopped" -a -e "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" ]; then
+                if [ "${_run}" = "Stopped" -a -s "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" ]; then
                     _run=$(head -n1 "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock")
                     _run="Locked (${_run})"
                 fi
diff --git a/lib/vm-run b/lib/vm-run
index 301b801..daf6c42 100644
--- a/lib/vm-run
+++ b/lib/vm-run
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ vm::confirm_stopped(){
 
     # check vm-bhyve lock
     # this will err even if guest is running on another node
-    if [ -e "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" ]; then
+    if [ -s "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock" ]; then
         _host=$(head -n 1 "${VM_DS_PATH}/${_name}/run.lock")
 
         if [ "${_host}" != "${_our_host}" -o "${_skip_lock}" != "1" ]; then