diff --git a/apps/bmxtranswrap/bmxtranswrap.cpp b/apps/bmxtranswrap/bmxtranswrap.cpp
index 85c3ddaf..83b243b7 100644
--- a/apps/bmxtranswrap/bmxtranswrap.cpp
+++ b/apps/bmxtranswrap/bmxtranswrap.cpp
@@ -3568,6 +3568,11 @@ int main(int argc, const char** argv)
             log_info("Output filename set to '%s'\n", complete_output_name.c_str());
         }
 
+        if (complete_output_name.empty()) {
+            log_error("No output name given; use the '-o' option\n");
+            throw false;
+        }
+
 
         // create output clip and initialize
 
diff --git a/apps/raw2bmx/raw2bmx.cpp b/apps/raw2bmx/raw2bmx.cpp
index bea3ea84..04a5ac68 100644
--- a/apps/raw2bmx/raw2bmx.cpp
+++ b/apps/raw2bmx/raw2bmx.cpp
@@ -4113,12 +4113,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char** argv)
         return 1;
     }
 
-    if (!output_name) {
-        usage_ref(argv[0]);
-        fprintf(stderr, "No output name given\n");
-        return 1;
-    }
-
     if (inputs.empty()) {
         usage_ref(argv[0]);
         fprintf(stderr, "No raw inputs given\n");
@@ -4997,6 +4991,11 @@ int main(int argc, const char** argv)
             log_info("Output filename set to '%s'\n", complete_output_name.c_str());
         }
 
+        if (complete_output_name.empty()) {
+            log_error("No output name given; use the '-o' option\n");
+            throw false;
+        }
+
 
         // create clip