diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 4cfb4d7e..17cdb5c9 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -367,6 +367,9 @@ static struct file *
 enter_command_line_file (name)
      char *name;
 {
+  if (name[0] == '\0')
+    fatal ("empty string invalid as file name");
+
   if (name[0] == '~')
     {
       char *expanded = tilde_expand (name);