A method, computer program product and data processing system for detecting resource exception errors. Resource exception errors may be detected by scanning code for a method invocation used to open a resource file. Upon identifying a method invocation, the code may be scanned for a method signature, i.e., pointer, associated with the identified method invocation. The method signature points to the resource file to be opened by the method invocation. The code may be further scanned for a pair of string delimiters adjacent to the method signature. The string within the pair of string delimiters is a key to the resource file. The resource file may then be opened using the method invocation previously identified. A resource exception error is detected if the key or its associated value are not defined in the resource file.