diff --git a/erpnext/accounts/utils.py b/erpnext/accounts/utils.py
index be29f34..4eb5045 100644
--- a/erpnext/accounts/utils.py
+++ b/erpnext/accounts/utils.py
@@ -46,6 +46,12 @@
 		account = frappe.form_dict.get("account")
 		date = frappe.form_dict.get("date")
 
+	acc = frappe.db.get_value('Account', account, \
+		['lft', 'rgt', 'report_type', 'group_or_ledger'], as_dict=1)
+
+	if not acc:
+		frappe.throw(_("Account {0} does not exist").format(account), frappe.DoesNotExistError)
+
 	cond = []
 	if date:
 		cond.append("posting_date <= '%s'" % date)
@@ -65,9 +71,6 @@
 			# hence, assuming balance as 0.0
 			return 0.0
 
-	acc = frappe.db.get_value('Account', account, \
-		['lft', 'rgt', 'report_type', 'group_or_ledger'], as_dict=1)
-
 	# for pl accounts, get balance within a fiscal year
 	if acc.report_type == 'Profit and Loss':
 		cond.append("posting_date >= '%s' and voucher_type != 'Period Closing Voucher'" \