diff --git a/repmgr.c b/repmgr.c
index fdf9e94c..8a76a1e2 100644
--- a/repmgr.c
+++ b/repmgr.c
@@ -898,6 +898,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 
 	/* Initialise the repmgr schema name */
+
 	if (strlen(repmgr_cluster))
 		/* --cluster parameter provided */
 		maxlen_snprintf(repmgr_schema, "%s%s", DEFAULT_REPMGR_SCHEMA_PREFIX,
@@ -906,6 +907,16 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		maxlen_snprintf(repmgr_schema, "%s%s", DEFAULT_REPMGR_SCHEMA_PREFIX,
 						options.cluster_name);
 
+	/*
+	 * If no value for the repmgr_schema provided, continue only under duress.
+	 */
+	if (strcmp(repmgr_schema, DEFAULT_REPMGR_SCHEMA_PREFIX) == 0 && !runtime_options.force)
+	{
+		log_err(_("unable to determine cluster name - please provide a valid configuration file with -c/--config-file\n"));
+		log_hint(_("Use -F/--force to continue anyway\n"));
+		exit(ERR_BAD_CONFIG);
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Initialise slot name, if required (9.4 and later)
 	 *