diff --git a/bin/as.sh b/bin/as.sh
index 0f0c78992b6..d9f3b488832 100755
--- a/bin/as.sh
+++ b/bin/as.sh
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ rreadlink() ( # Execute the function in a *subshell* to localize variables and t
   { \unalias command; \unset -f command; } >/dev/null 2>&1
   [ -n "$ZSH_VERSION" ] && options[POSIX_BUILTINS]=on # make zsh find *builtins* with `command` too.
 
+  if [ `command -v file` ] && [[ `command file $target` =~ broken ]]; then
+    echo 'Error:' `file $target`
+    return 1
+  fi
+
   while :; do # Resolve potential symlinks until the ultimate target is found.
       [ -L "$target" ] || [ -e "$target" ] || { command printf '%s\n' "ERROR: '$target' does not exist." >&2; return 1; }
       command cd "$(command dirname -- "$target")" # Change to target dir; necessary for correct resolution of target path.
@@ -818,7 +823,9 @@ parse_arguments()
             echo "2. Try to use different http port, for example: as.sh --telnet-port 9998 --http-port 9999"
             exit 1
         fi
-    elif [ -z ${TARGET_PID} ]; then
+    fi
+
+    if [ -z ${TARGET_PID} ]; then
         # batch mode is enabled, no interactive process selection.
         echo "Illegal arguments, the <PID> is required." 1>&2
         return 1