diff --git a/core/core-configuration-layer.el b/core/core-configuration-layer.el
index ec99334a4..82901c853 100644
--- a/core/core-configuration-layer.el
+++ b/core/core-configuration-layer.el
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ refreshed during the current session."
    (changed-since-last-dump-p
     ;; dump
     (configuration-layer//load)
-    (when dotspacemacs-emacs-pdumper-executable-file
+    (when (spacemacs/emacs-with-pdumper-set-p)
       (configuration-layer/message "Layer list has changed since last dump.")
       (configuration-layer//dump-emacs)))
    (spacemacs-force-dump
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ refreshed during the current session."
     ;; dumping
     (configuration-layer//load)
     (configuration-layer/message "Dumping Emacs..."))
-   ((and dotspacemacs-emacs-pdumper-executable-file
+   ((and (spacemacs/emacs-with-pdumper-set-p)
          (spacemacs-run-from-dump-p))
     ;; dumped
     (configuration-layer/message
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ refreshed during the current session."
    (t
     ;; standard loading
     (configuration-layer//load)
-    (when dotspacemacs-emacs-pdumper-executable-file
+    (when (spacemacs/emacs-with-pdumper-set-p)
       (configuration-layer/message
        (concat "Layer list has not changed since last time. "
                "Skipping dumping process!")))))
diff --git a/core/core-dumper.el b/core/core-dumper.el
index f875bc7b5..e8dc56809 100644
--- a/core/core-dumper.el
+++ b/core/core-dumper.el
@@ -49,6 +49,11 @@ You should not used this function, it is reserved for some specific process."
   `(unless (eq 'dumping spacemacs-dump-mode)
      ,@body))
 
+(defun spacemacs/emacs-with-pdumper-set-p ()
+  "Return non-nil if a portable dumper capable emacs executable is set."
+  (and dotspacemacs-emacs-pdumper-executable-file
+       (file-exists-p dotspacemacs-emacs-pdumper-executable-file)))
+
 (defun spacemacs/dump-emacs ()
   "Dump emacs in a subprocess."
   (let ((default-directory (file-name-directory