diff --git a/doc/changelog.txt b/doc/changelog.txt
index 19c1942..2bf0bb6 100644
--- a/doc/changelog.txt
+++ b/doc/changelog.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 0.15 "" (released xx.xx.2012)
 
   * Print help when unknown options are given.
+  * Print error when archive files do not exist.
 
 0.14 "Book of Dragons" (released 30.1.2012)
 
diff --git a/patool b/patool
index 9aafa4e..eb0866f 100755
--- a/patool
+++ b/patool
@@ -33,16 +33,16 @@ shortopts = {"verbose": "v"}
 def handle_multi_archive(archives, cmd, **kwargs):
     """Handle a multi-archive command."""
     res = 0
-    archives = [x for x in archives if os.path.exists(x)]
-    if archives:
-        for archive in archives:
+    for archive in archives:
+        if not os.path.isfile(archive):
+            res = 1
+            msg = "archive %r is not a file" % archive
+            print >>sys.stderr, "patool error:", msg
+        else:
             newres = handle_archive(archive, cmd, **kwargs)
             # return error if one of the archives could not be extracted
             if newres:
                 res = newres
-    else:
-        print >>sys.stderr, "patool error: none of the given archive files exist"
-        res = 1
     return res
 
 
@@ -70,16 +70,19 @@ def create (archive, file1, *files, **kwargs):
     allfiles = (file1,)+files
     return handle_archive(archive, 'create', *allfiles, **kwargs)
 
+
 @baker.command
 def diff (archive1, archive2):
     """Show differences between two archives."""
     return handle_archive(archive1, "diff", archive2)
 
+
 @baker.command
 def repack (archive1, archive2):
     """Repackage one archive in another format."""
     return handle_archive(archive1, "repack", archive2)
 
+
 @baker.command
 def formats ():
     """List supported and available archive formats."""