diff --git a/lib/motion/project/config.rb b/lib/motion/project/config.rb
index 9f78240f..0f564f29 100644
--- a/lib/motion/project/config.rb
+++ b/lib/motion/project/config.rb
@@ -278,6 +278,9 @@ def spec_files
           files_filter.map! { |x| File.exist?(x) ? File.expand_path(x) : x }
           specs.delete_if { |x| [File.expand_path(x), File.basename(x, '.rb'), File.basename(x, '_spec.rb')].none? { |p| files_filter.include?(p) } }
         end
+
+        App.fail "There are no spec files to run. Place your spec files in your project under the `spec` directory." if specs.empty?
+
         spec_core_files + helpers + specs
       end
     end