diff --git a/src/devedeng/dvd_menu.py b/src/devedeng/dvd_menu.py
index 09f2216..6b36f2d 100644
--- a/src/devedeng/dvd_menu.py
+++ b/src/devedeng/dvd_menu.py
@@ -673,4 +673,10 @@ class dvd_menu(devedeng.interface_manager.interface_manager):
 
     def restore_menu(self, data):
 
+        # check that the menu's background picture and music are there
+        if ('background_picture' in data) and (not os.path.exists(data['background_picture'])):
+            data['background_picture'] = self.default_background
+        if ('background_music' in data) and (not os.path.exists(data['background_music'])):
+            data['background_music'] = self.default_sound
+
         self.unserialize(data)