diff --git a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
index 19bd3f9c7..819c2c8a1 100755
--- a/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
+++ b/artiq/frontend/artiq_flash.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def main():
     if opts.dir is None:
         opts.dir = os.path.join(artiq_dir, "binaries",
                                 "{}-{}".format(opts.target, opts.adapter))
-    if not os.path.exists(opts.dir):
+    if not os.path.exists(opts.dir) and opts.action != ["start"]:
         raise SystemExit("Binaries directory '{}' does not exist"
                          .format(opts.dir))