diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index 56b45e03836..7445983cc69 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -1421,13 +1421,15 @@ or buffer name to which to direct the command's standard error output.
 If it is nil, error output is mingled with regular output.
 In an interactive call, the variable `shell-command-default-error-buffer'
 specifies the value of ERROR-BUFFER."
-  (interactive (let ((string
-		      ;; Do this before calling region-beginning
-		      ;; and region-end, in case subprocess output
-		      ;; relocates them while we are in the minibuffer.
-		      (read-from-minibuffer "Shell command on region: "
-					    nil nil nil
-					    'shell-command-history)))
+  (interactive (let (string)
+		 (unless (mark)
+		   (error "The mark is not set now, so there is no region"))
+		 ;; Do this before calling region-beginning
+		 ;; and region-end, in case subprocess output
+		 ;; relocates them while we are in the minibuffer.
+		 (setq string (read-from-minibuffer "Shell command on region: "
+						    nil nil nil
+						    'shell-command-history))
 		 ;; call-interactively recognizes region-beginning and
 		 ;; region-end specially, leaving them in the history.
 		 (list (region-beginning) (region-end)