diff --git a/clients/image.c b/clients/image.c
index 112b93d92..573117caf 100644
--- a/clients/image.c
+++ b/clients/image.c
@@ -412,6 +412,11 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	int i;
 	int image_counter = 0;
 
+	if (argc <= 1 || argv[1][0]=='-') {
+		printf("Usage: %s image...\n", argv[0]);
+		return 1;
+	}
+
 	d = display_create(&argc, argv);
 	if (d == NULL) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "failed to create display: %m\n");