diff --git a/src/normal.cc b/src/normal.cc
index 9eabc20c..ae59d9fc 100644
--- a/src/normal.cc
+++ b/src/normal.cc
@@ -1710,13 +1710,16 @@ void remove_selection(Context& context, NormalParams p)
 {
     auto& selections = context.selections();
     const int index = p.count ? p.count-1 : selections.main_index();
-    if (selections.size() > 1 and index < selections.size())
-    {
-        selections.remove(index);
-        size_t main_index = selections.main_index();
-        if (index < main_index or main_index == selections.size())
-            selections.set_main_index(main_index - 1);
-    }
+
+    if (index >= selections.size())
+        throw runtime_error{format("There is not {}th selection", index)};
+    if (selections.size() == 1)
+        throw runtime_error{"Cannot remove the last selection"};
+
+    selections.remove(index);
+    size_t main_index = selections.main_index();
+    if (index < main_index or main_index == selections.size())
+        selections.set_main_index(main_index - 1);
     selections.check_invariant();
 }