diff --git a/ffmpeg.c b/ffmpeg.c
index c53b8e65ff..9308cc4025 100644
--- a/ffmpeg.c
+++ b/ffmpeg.c
@@ -3874,10 +3874,6 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     sws_opts = sws_getContext(16,16,0, 16,16,0, sws_flags, NULL,NULL,NULL);
 
     show_banner();
-    if (argc <= 1) {
-        show_help();
-        av_exit(1);
-    }
 
     /* parse options */
     parse_options(argc, argv, options, opt_output_file);
diff --git a/ffplay.c b/ffplay.c
index 67fbff202f..f7ff48d2e8 100644
--- a/ffplay.c
+++ b/ffplay.c
@@ -2553,7 +2553,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     parse_options(argc, argv, options, opt_input_file);
 
     if (!input_filename) {
-        show_help();
+        fprintf(stderr, "An input file must be specified\n");
         exit(1);
     }