diff --git a/cc2538-bsl.py b/cc2538-bsl.py
index 9a1cf9f..dd8cfb9 100755
--- a/cc2538-bsl.py
+++ b/cc2538-bsl.py
@@ -1268,6 +1268,10 @@ def cli_setup():
 
             mdebug(5, "Reading %s bytes starting at address 0x%x"
                    % (length, args.address))
+
+            if args.address + length > device.size:
+                mdebug(5, "Warning: reading beyond device size!")
+
             with open(args.file, 'wb') as f:
                 for i in range(0, length >> 2):
                     # reading 4 bytes at a time