diff --git a/ibridgesgui/login.py b/ibridgesgui/login.py
index dd892fca..07b110cf 100644
--- a/ibridgesgui/login.py
+++ b/ibridgesgui/login.py
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from ibridges import IrodsPath, Session
+from ibridges.resources import Resources
 from ibridges.session import LoginError, PasswordError
+from irods.exception import ResourceDoesNotExist
 from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QDialog, QLineEdit
 from PyQt6.uic import loadUi
 
@@ -84,6 +86,7 @@ def login_function(self):
                 session.home,
             )
             session.write_pam_password()
+            self.session_dict["session"] = session
             set_last_ienv_path(env_file.name)
         except LoginError:
             self.error_label.setText("irods_environment.json not setup correctly.")
@@ -102,9 +105,29 @@ def login_function(self):
             self.error_label.setText(f"Login failed, consult the log file(s) in {log_path}")
 
         #check irods_home
-        if not IrodsPath(session).collection_exists():
+        fail_home = True
+        if not IrodsPath(self.session_dict["session"]).collection_exists():
             self.error_label.setText(f'"irods_home": "{session.home}" does not exist.')
             self.logger.error("irods_home does not exist.")
         else:
-            self.session_dict["session"] = session
+            fail_home = False
+
+        #check existance of default resource
+        fail_resc = True
+        try:
+            resc = Resources(self.session_dict["session"]).get_resource(session.default_resc)
+            if resc.parent is None:
+                fail_resc = False
+            else:
+                self.error_label.setText(f'"default_resource": "{session.default_resc}" not valid.')
+        except ResourceDoesNotExist:
+            self.error_label.setText(
+                f'"default_resource": "{session.default_resc}" does not exist.')
+            self.logger.error("Default resource does not exist.")
+        except AttributeError:
+            self.error_label.setText(f'"default_resource": "{session.default_resc}" not valid.')
+
+        if fail_resc or fail_home:
+            del self.session_dict["session"]
+        else:
             self.close()