diff --git a/techrec/cli.py b/techrec/cli.py
index 320ac6d..3b7b2d4 100644
--- a/techrec/cli.py
+++ b/techrec/cli.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import os.path
 import sys
 from argparse import Action, ArgumentParser
 from datetime import datetime
+import urllib.request
 
 from . import forge, maint, server
 from .config_manager import get_config
@@ -12,18 +13,27 @@ logging.basicConfig(stream=sys.stdout)
 logger = logging.getLogger("cli")
 
 CWD = os.getcwd()
+OK_CODES = [200, 301, 302]
+
+
+def is_writable(d):
+    return os.access(d, os.W_OK)
 
 
 def pre_check_permissions():
-    def is_writable(d):
-        return os.access(d, os.W_OK)
-
-    if is_writable(get_config()["AUDIO_INPUT"]):
-        yield "Audio input '%s' writable" % get_config()["AUDIO_INPUT"]
-    if not os.access(get_config()["AUDIO_INPUT"], os.R_OK):
-        yield "Audio input '%s' unreadable" % get_config()["AUDIO_INPUT"]
-        sys.exit(10)
-    if is_writable(os.getcwd()):
+    audio_input = get_config()["AUDIO_INPUT"]
+    if audio_input.startswith("http://") or audio_input.startswith("https://"):
+        with urllib.request.urlopen(audio_input) as req:
+            if req.code not in OK_CODES:
+                yield f"Audio input {audio_input} not accessible"
+                sys.exit(10)
+    else:
+        if is_writable(audio_input):
+            yield "Audio input '%s' writable" % audio_input
+        if not os.access(audio_input, os.R_OK):
+            yield "Audio input '%s' unreadable" % audio_input
+            sys.exit(10)
+    if is_writable(CWD):
         yield "Code writable"
     if not is_writable(get_config()["AUDIO_OUTPUT"]):
         yield "Audio output '%s' not writable" % get_config()["AUDIO_OUTPUT"]
@@ -72,7 +82,8 @@ def common_pre():
                 continue
             path = os.path.realpath(conf)
             if not os.path.exists(path):
-                logger.warn("Configuration file '%s' does not exist; skipping" % path)
+                logger.warn(
+                    "Configuration file '%s' does not exist; skipping" % path)
                 continue
             configs.append(path)
     if getattr(sys, "frozen", False):