diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/bump-formula-pr.rb b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/bump-formula-pr.rb
index aaaa158ab3..0867948815 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/bump-formula-pr.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/bump-formula-pr.rb
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ module Homebrew
         unless Homebrew.args.quiet?
           ohai "replace #{old.inspect} with #{new.inspect}"
         end
+        unless old
+          raise "No old value for new value #{new}! Did you pass the wrong arguments?"
+        end
         contents.gsub!(old, new)
       end
       unless contents.errors.empty?
@@ -352,6 +355,9 @@ module Homebrew
           unless Homebrew.args.quiet?
             ohai "replace #{old.inspect} with #{new.inspect}"
           end
+          unless old
+            raise "No old value for new value #{new}! Did you pass the wrong arguments?"
+          end
           s.gsub!(old, new)
         end
       end