diff --git a/docling/pipeline/standard_pdf_pipeline.py b/docling/pipeline/standard_pdf_pipeline.py
index 11466ec2..1c71bf7c 100644
--- a/docling/pipeline/standard_pdf_pipeline.py
+++ b/docling/pipeline/standard_pdf_pipeline.py
@@ -64,6 +64,12 @@ class StandardPdfPipeline(PaginatedPipeline):
         elif settings.artifacts_path is not None:
             artifacts_path = Path(settings.artifacts_path).expanduser()
 
+        if artifacts_path is not None and not artifacts_path.is_dir():
+            raise RuntimeError(
+                f"The value of {artifacts_path=} is not valid. "
+                "When defined, it must point to a folder containing all models required by the pipeline."
+            )
+
         self.keep_images = (
             self.pipeline_options.generate_page_images
             or self.pipeline_options.generate_picture_images