diff --git a/src/commands/mod.rs b/src/commands/mod.rs
index 2c41f479f..665297403 100644
--- a/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -2591,6 +2591,13 @@ don't make any changes, then the operation will be aborted.
         .base_repo()
         .store()
         .get_tree(&RepoPath::root(), &tree_id)?;
+    if middle_tree.id() == base_tree.id() {
+        writeln!(
+            ui.warning(),
+            "The given paths do not match any file: {}",
+            args.paths.join(" ")
+        )?;
+    }
 
     let first_template = description_template_for_cmd_split(
         tx.base_workspace_helper(),
diff --git a/tests/test_split_command.rs b/tests/test_split_command.rs
index 82190bdfc..7b0f3008c 100644
--- a/tests/test_split_command.rs
+++ b/tests/test_split_command.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-use crate::common::TestEnvironment;
+use crate::common::{get_stderr_string, get_stdout_string, TestEnvironment};
 
 pub mod common;
 
@@ -110,13 +110,19 @@ fn test_split_by_paths() {
 
     // Insert an empty commit before @- with "split nonexistent"
     test_env.set_up_fake_editor();
-    let stdout = test_env.jj_cmd_success(&repo_path, &["split", "-r", "@-", "nonexistent"]);
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @r###"
+    let assert = test_env
+        .jj_cmd(&repo_path, &["split", "-r", "@-", "nonexistent"])
+        .assert()
+        .success();
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(get_stdout_string(&assert), @r###"
     Rebased 1 descendant commits
     First part: 0647b2cbd0da (no description set)
     Second part: d5d77af65446 (no description set)
     Working copy now at: 86f228dc3a50 (no description set)
     "###);
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(get_stderr_string(&assert), @r###"
+    The given paths do not match any file: nonexistent
+    "###);
 
     let stdout =
         test_env.jj_cmd_success(&repo_path, &["log", "-T", r#"change_id.short() " " empty"#]);