diff --git a/include/openmc/settings.h b/include/openmc/settings.h
index c7d14b4e7..1fc68a6ea 100644
--- a/include/openmc/settings.h
+++ b/include/openmc/settings.h
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ extern bool source_latest;            //!< write latest source at each batch?
 extern bool source_separate;          //!< write source to separate file?
 extern bool source_write;             //!< write source in HDF5 files?
 extern bool surface_source;           //!< write surface source file?
+extern bool surf_src_read;            //!< read surface source file?
 extern bool survival_biasing;         //!< use survival biasing?
 extern bool temperature_multipole;    //!< use multipole data?
 extern "C" bool trigger_on;           //!< tally triggers enabled?
diff --git a/src/settings.cpp b/src/settings.cpp
index 11effc922..516dfaaea 100644
--- a/src/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/settings.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ bool source_latest           {false};
 bool source_separate         {false};
 bool source_write            {true};
 bool surface_source          {false};
+bool surf_src_read           {false};
 bool survival_biasing        {false};
 bool temperature_multipole   {false};
 bool trigger_on              {false};
diff --git a/src/source.cpp b/src/source.cpp
index 0efaf52ba..cdf2bac2d 100644
--- a/src/source.cpp
+++ b/src/source.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,26 @@ IndependentSource::IndependentSource(pugi::xml_node node)
 
   // Check for external source file
   if (check_for_node(node, "file")) {
+    // Copy path of source file
+    settings::path_source = get_node_value(node, "file", false, true);
+
+    // Check if source file exists
+    if (!file_exists(settings::path_source)) {
+      fatal_error(fmt::format("Source file '{}' does not exist.",
+        settings::path_source));
+    }
+
+    // Check if it is a surface source file.
+    if (check_for_node(node, "surf_src_file")) {
+      settings::surf_src_read = get_node_value_bool(node, "surf_src_file");
+    }
+
+  } else if (check_for_node(node, "library")) {
+    settings::path_source_library = get_node_value(node, "library", false, true);
+    if (!file_exists(settings::path_source_library)) {
+      fatal_error(fmt::format("Source library '{}' does not exist.",
+        settings::path_source_library));
+    }
 
   } else {