diff --git a/copy-firmware.sh b/copy-firmware.sh
index 3026c216..cca3913b 100755
--- a/copy-firmware.sh
+++ b/copy-firmware.sh
@@ -64,6 +64,11 @@ while test $# -gt 0; do
     esac
 done
 
+if [ -z "$destdir" ]; then
+	echo "ERROR: destination directory was not specified"
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 # shellcheck disable=SC2162 # file/folder name can include escaped symbols
 grep -E '^(RawFile|File):' WHENCE | sed -E -e 's/^(RawFile|File): */\1 /;s/"//g' | while read k f; do
     test -f "$f" || continue