diff --git a/dev/make-distribution.sh b/dev/make-distribution.sh
index 8b02446b2f15f8d0dd2796f74277e42b01de2b63..84233c64caa9cecdce38d99222a361c90f4c2bbb 100755
--- a/dev/make-distribution.sh
+++ b/dev/make-distribution.sh
@@ -72,9 +72,17 @@ while (( "$#" )); do
     --help)
       exit_with_usage
       ;;
-    *)
+    --*)
+      echo "Error: $1 is not supported"
+      exit_with_usage
+      ;;
+    -*)
       break
       ;;
+    *)
+      echo "Error: $1 is not supported"
+      exit_with_usage
+      ;;
   esac
   shift
 done