diff --git a/hendrics/io.py b/hendrics/io.py
index 456d3bfb..aa9f327c 100644
--- a/hendrics/io.py
+++ b/hendrics/io.py
@@ -522,6 +522,27 @@ def get_file_type(fname, raw_data=False):
     return ftype, contents
 
 
+def is_lightcurve(hdulist):
+    """Determine whether the file is a lightcurve
+    
+    Returns:
+    bool: True if the HDU list represents a light curve, False otherwise.
+    """
+    if len(hdulist) < 2:
+        return False
+
+    data_hdu = hdulist[1]
+    if not hasattr(data_hdu, "columns"):
+        return False
+
+    colnames = [col.name.upper() for col in data_hdu.columns]
+
+    time_col = "TIME" in colnames
+    lc_like_col = any(x in colnames for x in ["FLUX", "RATE", "COUNTS", "SAP_FLUX", "PDCSAP_FLUX"])
+
+    return time_col and lc_like_col
+
+
 # ----- functions to save and load EVENT data
 def save_events(eventlist, fname):
     """Save events in a file.
diff --git a/hendrics/read_events.py b/hendrics/read_events.py
index cc2e605b..f98635c2 100644
--- a/hendrics/read_events.py
+++ b/hendrics/read_events.py
@@ -16,9 +16,10 @@
 )
 
 from astropy import log
+from astropy.io import fits
 
 from .base import common_name, hen_root
-from .io import HEN_FILE_EXTENSION, load_events, save_events
+from .io import HEN_FILE_EXTENSION, load_events, save_events, is_lightcurve
 
 
 def treat_event_file(
@@ -643,6 +644,17 @@ def main(args=None):
 
         arglist = [[f, argdict] for f in files]
 
+        for fname in files:
+            if fname.endswith(".fits") or fname.endswith(".fit"):
+                with fits.open(fname) as hdulist:
+                    hdu_names = [h.name.upper() for h in hdulist]
+                    if "EVENTS" not in hdu_names and is_lightcurve(hdulist):
+                        print(f"\n  The file '{fname}' appears to be a light curve.")
+                        ans = input("Do you want to proceed with reading the file? [y/N]: ").strip().lower()
+                        if ans != 'y':
+                           raise ValueError("Aborted reading.")
+
+
         if os.name == "nt" or args.nproc == 1:
             [_wrap_fun(a) for a in arglist]
         else: