diff --git a/src/finite-strain-elasticity.cc b/src/finite-strain-elasticity.cc
index 411f9050013cf614d1b24c51f910be8eb24db30e..feff529f6a6aa342b1282da32de8ab77a2aeea1c 100644
--- a/src/finite-strain-elasticity.cc
+++ b/src/finite-strain-elasticity.cc
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[]) try
 
   // parse data file
   ParameterTree parameterSet;
+  if (argc < 2)
+    DUNE_THROW(Exception, "Usage: ./finite-strain-elasticity <parameter file>");
 
   ParameterTreeParser::readINITree(argv[1], parameterSet);