diff --git a/examples/nats-bench.go b/examples/nats-bench.go
index a8409aa72..2a0df95db 100644
--- a/examples/nats-bench.go
+++ b/examples/nats-bench.go
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ func main() {
 		usage()
 	}
 
+	if *numMsgs < 1 {
+		log.Fatal("Number of messages should be greater than zero.")
+	}
+
 	// Setup the option block
 	opts := nats.DefaultOptions
 	opts.Servers = strings.Split(*urls, ",")