diff --git a/lib/pstore.rb b/lib/pstore.rb
index 8569b45..be9d6a1 100644
--- a/lib/pstore.rb
+++ b/lib/pstore.rb
@@ -651,6 +651,7 @@ def load_data(file, read_only)
         table = load(file)
         raise Error, "PStore file seems to be corrupted." unless table.is_a?(Hash)
       rescue EOFError
+        raise unless file.size == 0
         # This seems to be a newly-created file.
         table = {}
       end
diff --git a/test/test_pstore.rb b/test/test_pstore.rb
index c302d2b..3159b2f 100644
--- a/test/test_pstore.rb
+++ b/test/test_pstore.rb
@@ -190,6 +190,15 @@ def clear_store
   def second_file
     File.join(Dir.tmpdir, "pstore.tmp2.#{Process.pid}")
   end
+
+  def test_truncated_read_only_store_is_not_empty
+    @pstore.transaction { @pstore[:foo] = "bar" }
+    data = File.binread(@pstore_file)
+    File.binwrite(@pstore_file, data.byteslice(0, data.bytesize - 1))
+
+    assert_raise(EOFError) { @pstore.transaction(true) { @pstore[:foo] } }
+  end
+
   def test_store_operations_require_transaction_owner
     ready = Thread::Queue.new
     release = Thread::Queue.new