diff --git a/diff.c b/diff.c
index e34bf97..a99b925 100644
--- a/diff.c
+++ b/diff.c
@@ -3317,6 +3317,9 @@
 		options->output_format = DIFF_FORMAT_NO_OUTPUT;
 		DIFF_OPT_SET(options, EXIT_WITH_STATUS);
 	}
+
+	if (DIFF_OPT_TST(options, FOLLOW_RENAMES) && options->pathspec.nr != 1)
+		die(_("--follow requires exactly one pathspec"));
 }
 
 static int opt_arg(const char *arg, int arg_short, const char *arg_long, int *val)