diff --git a/liblight/lights.c b/liblight/lights.c
index 3b5068cf..15db827b 100644
--- a/liblight/lights.c
+++ b/liblight/lights.c
@@ -361,8 +361,14 @@ static int open_lights(const struct hw_module_t* module, char const* name,
         set_light = set_light_battery;
     else if (0 == strcmp(LIGHT_ID_NOTIFICATIONS, name))
         set_light = set_light_notifications;
-    else if (0 == strcmp(LIGHT_ID_BUTTONS, name))
-        set_light = set_light_buttons;
+    else if (0 == strcmp(LIGHT_ID_BUTTONS, name)) {
+        if (!access(BUTTON_FILE, F_OK)) {
+          // enable light button when the file is present
+          set_light = set_light_buttons;
+        } else {
+          return -EINVAL;
+        }
+    }
     else if (0 == strcmp(LIGHT_ID_ATTENTION, name))
         set_light = set_light_attention;
     else