diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index e5f1811b6b..96df15b5cd 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -304,11 +304,15 @@ static int handle_options(const char ***argv, int *argc, int *envchanged)
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
 		} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "--shallow-file")) {
-			(*argv)++;
-			(*argc)--;
-			setenv(GIT_SHALLOW_FILE_ENVIRONMENT, (*argv)[0], 1);
+			if (*argc < 2) {
+				fprintf(stderr, _("no file given for '%s' option\n" ), "--shallow-file");
+				usage(git_usage_string);
+			}
+			setenv(GIT_SHALLOW_FILE_ENVIRONMENT, (*argv)[1], 1);
 			if (envchanged)
 				*envchanged = 1;
+			(*argv)++;
+			(*argc)--;
 		} else if (!strcmp(cmd, "-C")) {
 			if (*argc < 2) {
 				fprintf(stderr, _("no directory given for '%s' option\n" ), "-C");
diff --git a/t/t0041-usage.sh b/t/t0041-usage.sh
index 51af7cc030..2a9c5eafca 100755
--- a/t/t0041-usage.sh
+++ b/t/t0041-usage.sh
@@ -107,4 +107,11 @@ test_expect_success 'for-each-ref usage error' '
 	test_grep "usage" actual.err
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'git --shallow-file without a value' '
+	test_must_fail git --shallow-file >actual 2>actual.err &&
+	test_line_count = 0 actual &&
+	test_grep "no file given for " actual.err &&
+	test_grep "usage" actual.err
+'
+
 test_done