diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index b5b6ac6de..ff8d7a4ff 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -2485,6 +2485,10 @@ mod cmd {
         args: &[&str],
         _event: PromptEvent,
     ) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+        if args.is_empty() {
+            bail!("Line number required");
+        }
+
         let line = args[0].parse::<usize>()?;
 
         goto_line_impl(&mut cx.editor, NonZeroUsize::new(line));