diff --git a/internal/tools/semconv-gen/generator.go b/internal/tools/semconv-gen/generator.go
index 70270927125..9a9bbf8f747 100644
--- a/internal/tools/semconv-gen/generator.go
+++ b/internal/tools/semconv-gen/generator.go
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ type config struct {
 }
 
 func validateConfig(cfg config) (config, error) {
+	if cfg.inputPath == "" {
+		return config{}, errors.New("input path must be provided")
+	}
+
 	if cfg.outputFilename == "" {
 		cfg.outputFilename = fmt.Sprintf("%s.go", path.Base(cfg.inputPath))
 	}