diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/djvu_input.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/djvu_input.py
index 8f25551af8..ed61ff04d3 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/djvu_input.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/plugins/djvu_input.py
@@ -28,8 +28,12 @@ class DJVUInput(InputFormatPlugin):
         from calibre.ebooks.djvu.djvu import DJVUFile
         x = DJVUFile(stream)
         x.get_text(stdout)
+        raw_text = stdout.getvalue()
+        if not raw_text:
+            raise ValueError('The DJVU file contains no text, only images, probably page scans.'
+                    ' calibre only supports conversion of DJVU files with actual text in them.')
 
-        html = convert_basic(stdout.getvalue().replace(b"\n", b' ').replace(
+        html = convert_basic(raw_text.replace(b"\n", b' ').replace(
             b'\037', b'\n\n'))
         # Run the HTMLized text through the html processing plugin.
         from calibre.customize.ui import plugin_for_input_format