@@ -, +, @@ 
 the error message
---
 src/core/org/apache/jmeter/gui/action/Load.java | 7 +++++++
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+)
--- a/src/core/org/apache/jmeter/gui/action/Load.java	
+++ a/src/core/org/apache/jmeter/gui/action/Load.java	
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
 import com.thoughtworks.xstream.converters.ConversionException;
+import com.thoughtworks.xstream.io.StreamException;
 
 /**
  * Handles the Open (load a new file) and Merge commands.
@@ -144,6 +145,12 @@ public class Load extends AbstractActionWithNoRunningTest {
                 JMeterUtils.reportErrorToUser(SaveService.CEtoString(ex));
             } catch (IOException ex) {
                 reportError("Error reading file. {}", ex, false);
+            } catch (StreamException ex) {
+                Throwable exceptionToDisplay = ex;
+                if ("".equals(ex.getMessage()) && ex.getCause() != null) {
+                    exceptionToDisplay = ex.getCause();
+                }
+                reportError("Error in XML format. {}", exceptionToDisplay, false);
             } catch (Exception ex) {
                 reportError("Unexpected error. {}", ex, true);
             }
--