diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
index 90df0686..d9586f44 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/syncfiles.py
@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ def stage_ent(currmap, ent, targdir, appendexist=False):
     allfents = ent.split()
     for tmpent in allfents:
         fents = glob.glob(tmpent)
+        if not fents:
+            raise Exception('No matching files for "{}"'.format(tmpent))
         everyfent.extend(fents)
     if not everyfent:
         raise Exception('No matching files for "{}"'.format(ent))