diff --git a/cgroup2/manager.go b/cgroup2/manager.go
index 3536fc97..8cf91349 100644
--- a/cgroup2/manager.go
+++ b/cgroup2/manager.go
@@ -224,6 +224,10 @@ func Load(group string, opts ...InitOpts) (*Manager, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	path := filepath.Join(c.mountpoint, group)
+	_, err := os.Stat(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	return &Manager{
 		unifiedMountpoint: c.mountpoint,
 		path:              path,
diff --git a/cgroup2/manager_test.go b/cgroup2/manager_test.go
index 4902e576..aa9a0615 100644
--- a/cgroup2/manager_test.go
+++ b/cgroup2/manager_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package cgroup2
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"io/fs"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"syscall"
@@ -466,3 +467,22 @@ func BenchmarkStat(b *testing.B) {
 func toPtr[T any](v T) *T {
 	return &v
 }
+
+func TestLoadOKWhenExistent(t *testing.T) {
+	checkCgroupMode(t)
+	group := "/existent"
+
+	_, err := NewManager(defaultCgroup2Path, group, &Resources{})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, err = Load(group)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
+func TestLoadErrorsWhenNonExistent(t *testing.T) {
+	checkCgroupMode(t)
+	group := "/nonexistent"
+
+	_, err := Load(group)
+	require.ErrorIs(t, err, fs.ErrNotExist)
+}