diff --git a/commands/bake.go b/commands/bake.go
index f81d64fe..c2b0ba06 100644
--- a/commands/bake.go
+++ b/commands/bake.go
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ func runBake(dockerCli command.Cli, targets []string, in bakeOptions, cFlags com
 		return err
 	}
 
+	if len(files) == 0 {
+		return errors.New("couldn't find a bake definition")
+	}
+
 	tgts, grps, err := bake.ReadTargets(ctx, files, targets, overrides, map[string]string{
 		// don't forget to update documentation if you add a new
 		// built-in variable: docs/bake-reference.md#built-in-variables
diff --git a/tests/bake.go b/tests/bake.go
index 83a171ea..1be77317 100644
--- a/tests/bake.go
+++ b/tests/bake.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ var bakeTests = []func(t *testing.T, sb integration.Sandbox){
 	testBakeRemoteCmdContextEscapeRelative,
 	testBakeRemoteDockerfileCwd,
 	testBakeRemoteLocalContextRemoteDockerfile,
+	testBakeEmpty,
 }
 
 func testBakeLocal(t *testing.T, sb integration.Sandbox) {
@@ -426,3 +427,9 @@ COPY foo /foo
 	require.Error(t, err, out)
 	require.Contains(t, out, "reading a dockerfile for a remote build invocation is currently not supported")
 }
+
+func testBakeEmpty(t *testing.T, sb integration.Sandbox) {
+	out, err := bakeCmd(sb)
+	require.Error(t, err, out)
+	require.Contains(t, out, "couldn't find a bake definition")
+}