diff --git a/parser-mecmd.c b/parser-mecmd.c
index 9070f9890a..65eabdd85a 100644
--- a/parser-mecmd.c
+++ b/parser-mecmd.c
@@ -97,8 +97,10 @@ m_config_parse_me_command_line(m_config_t *config, int argc, char **argv)
 	    opt_exit = 1;
 	    tmp = M_OPT_EXIT - tmp;
 	  }
+	  else
 	  if(tmp < 0){
 //	    mp_msg(MSGT_CFGPARSER, MSGL_ERR, "m_config_set_option() failed (%d)\n",tmp);
+	    mp_msg(MSGT_CFGPARSER, MSGL_ERR, "Error parsing option on the command line: -%s\n",opt);
 	    goto err_out;
 	  }
 	} else {
diff --git a/parser-mpcmd.c b/parser-mpcmd.c
index 7f591cc87e..60c30b5117 100644
--- a/parser-mpcmd.c
+++ b/parser-mpcmd.c
@@ -199,6 +199,7 @@ m_config_parse_mp_command_line(m_config_t *config, int argc, char **argv)
 	  tmp = M_OPT_EXIT - tmp;
 	} else
 	if (tmp < 0) {
+	  mp_msg(MSGT_CFGPARSER, MSGL_ERR, "Error parsing option on the command line: -%s\n",opt);
 	  goto err_out;
 	}
 	i += tmp;