diff --git a/src/options.cc b/src/options.cc
index 6f73edd..99c5f53 100644
--- a/src/options.cc
+++ b/src/options.cc
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ Options opustags::parse_args(const int argc, char **argv)
                 break;
 
             case 'o':
+                if (arg.empty())
+                    throw ArgumentError("Output path cannot be empty");
                 options.path_out = arg;
                 break;
 
diff --git a/tests/options_test.cc b/tests/options_test.cc
index d6b9752..64b296b 100644
--- a/tests/options_test.cc
+++ b/tests/options_test.cc
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ TEST_CASE("option parsing", "[options]")
     SECTION("--output") {
         REQUIRE(retrieve_options({"--output", "ABC"}).path_out == "ABC");
         REQUIRE(retrieve_options({"-o", "ABC"}).path_out == "ABC");
+        REQUIRE_THROWS(retrieve_options({"--output", ""}));
+        REQUIRE_THROWS(retrieve_options({"-o", ""}));
     }
 
     SECTION("--delete-all") {