diff --git a/tests/blank_rsa.key b/tests/blank_rsa.key
new file mode 100644
diff --git a/tests/test_pkey.py b/tests/test_pkey.py
index da3278219748a3d163c58b697712d2b6402d7fa6_dGVzdHMvdGVzdF9wa2V5LnB5..91d6f61f5a442bac68719b9c355bcf3629c47a23_dGVzdHMvdGVzdF9wa2V5LnB5 100644
--- a/tests/test_pkey.py
+++ b/tests/test_pkey.py
@@ -184,6 +184,11 @@
                 with pytest.raises(SSHException, match=str(exception)):
                     RSAKey.from_private_key_file(_support("test_rsa.key"))
 
+    def test_loading_empty_keys_errors_usefully(self):
+        # #1599 - raise SSHException instead of IndexError
+        with pytest.raises(SSHException, match="no lines"):
+            RSAKey.from_private_key_file(_support("blank_rsa.key"))
+
     def test_load_rsa_password(self):
         key = RSAKey.from_private_key_file(
             _support("test_rsa_password.key"), "television"