diff --git a/rc/tools/lint.kak b/rc/tools/lint.kak
index 3e25d02f..20875a23 100644
--- a/rc/tools/lint.kak
+++ b/rc/tools/lint.kak
@@ -277,6 +277,12 @@ define-command \
     } \
     lint-buffer \
 %{
+    evaluate-commands %sh{
+        if [ -z "${kak_opt_lintcmd}" ]; then
+            echo 'fail The lintcmd option is not set'
+            exit 1
+        fi
+    }
     evaluate-commands -draft %{
         execute-keys '%'
         lint-cleaned-selections %opt{lintcmd}