diff --git a/tools/gn/command_desc.cc b/tools/gn/command_desc.cc
index 9a9b243..9bd68e4 100644
--- a/tools/gn/command_desc.cc
+++ b/tools/gn/command_desc.cc
@@ -456,6 +456,12 @@
 
   bool json = cmdline->GetSwitchValueASCII("format") == "json";
 
+  if (target_matches.empty() && config_matches.empty()) {
+    OutputString("The input " + args[1] +
+                 " matches no targets, configs or files.\n", DECORATION_YELLOW);
+    return 1;
+  }
+
   if (json) {
     // Convert all targets/configs to JSON, serialize and print them
     auto res = std::make_unique<base::DictionaryValue>();