When /tmp/test.png is a 0 byte file the following program produces the error:
libpng error: Read Error
Aborted


#include <stdio.h>
#include <cairo.h>
#include <cairo-png.h>

#define FILENAME "/tmp/test.png" 

int
main (void)
{
    cairo_surface_t *surface;
    FILE *file;
    int width, height;

    file = fopen (FILENAME, "w");
    if (file == NULL) {
	fprintf (stderr, "Failed to open file %s for writing.\n", FILENAME);
	return 1;
    }
    surface = cairo_image_surface_create_for_png(file, &width, &height);
    return 0;
}