diff --git a/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp b/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
index 062bf527d..ec2c54a82 100644
--- a/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
+++ b/cli/cmdlineparser.cpp
@@ -719,6 +719,9 @@ bool CmdLineParser::parseFromArgs(int argc, const char* const argv[])
                         if (!rule.pattern.empty())
                             _settings->rules.push_back(rule);
                     }
+                } else {
+                    printMessage("cppcheck: error: unable to load rule-file: " + std::string(12+argv[i]));
+                    return false;
                 }
             }
 #endif