diff --git a/src/libvirt-domain.c b/src/libvirt-domain.c
index 208c2438fe..a32630a6e9 100644
--- a/src/libvirt-domain.c
+++ b/src/libvirt-domain.c
@@ -1190,7 +1190,9 @@ virDomainRestoreFlags(virConnectPtr conn, const char *from, const char *dxml,
  * @nparams: number of restore parameters
  * @flags: bitwise-OR of virDomainSaveRestoreFlags
  *
- * This method extends virDomainRestoreFlags by adding parameters.
+ * This method extends virDomainRestoreFlags by adding parameters. For
+ * now, VIR_DOMAIN_SAVE_PARAM_FILE is required but this requirement may
+ * be lifted in the future.
  *
  * Returns 0 in case of success and -1 in case of failure.
  *
diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 0b31c73bb9..702fd0239c 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -5967,6 +5967,12 @@ qemuDomainRestoreParams(virConnectPtr conn,
                                 VIR_DOMAIN_SAVE_PARAM_DXML, &dxml) < 0)
         return -1;
 
+    if (!path) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INVALID_ARG, "%s",
+                       _("missing path to restore from"));
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     ret = qemuDomainRestoreInternal(conn, path, dxml, flags,
                                     virDomainRestoreParamsEnsureACL);
     return ret;