diff --git a/binutils/ChangeLog b/binutils/ChangeLog
index 735a3445512..13a665cd3ed 100644
--- a/binutils/ChangeLog
+++ b/binutils/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2017-04-23  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
+
+	PR 21417
+	* ar.c (main): Check that an archive file is given after options.
+
 2017-04-23  Alan Modra  <amodra@gmail.com>
 
 	PR 21415
diff --git a/binutils/ar.c b/binutils/ar.c
index 274be4685a7..8e4d81cc47c 100644
--- a/binutils/ar.c
+++ b/binutils/ar.c
@@ -788,6 +788,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
       inarch_filename = argv[arg_index++];
+      if (inarch_filename == NULL)
+	usage (0);
 
       for (file_count = 0; argv[arg_index + file_count] != NULL; file_count++)
 	continue;