diff --git a/cmd/micro/highlight/parser.go b/cmd/micro/highlight/parser.go
index 8e0a2897..996cef58 100644
--- a/cmd/micro/highlight/parser.go
+++ b/cmd/micro/highlight/parser.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package highlight
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 
@@ -122,6 +123,10 @@ func ParseFtDetect(file *File) (r [2]*regexp.Regexp, err error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	if loaded == 0 {
+		return r, errors.New("No detect regexes found")
+	}
+
 	return r, err
 }