diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index da13b0557..d5e6868b5 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ Command.prototype.command = function(nameAndArgs, actionOptsOrExecDesc, execOpts
   */
 
 Command.prototype.addCommand = function(cmd) {
-  if (!cmd._name) throw Error('error: addCommand name is not specified for command');
+  if (!cmd._name) throw new Error('Command passed to .AddCommand must have a name');
 
   this.commands.push(cmd);
   cmd.parent = this;
diff --git a/tests/command.addCommand.test.js b/tests/command.addCommand.test.js
index 688818953..d77e96562 100644
--- a/tests/command.addCommand.test.js
+++ b/tests/command.addCommand.test.js
@@ -35,9 +35,17 @@ test('when commands added using .addCommand and .command then internals similar'
       case 'boolean':
       case 'number':
       case 'undefined':
-        // Compare vaues in a way that will make some sense in test failure message.
+        // Compare vaues in a way that will be readable in test failure message.
         expect(`${key}:${cmd1[key]}`).toEqual(`${key}:${cmd2[key]}`);
         break;
     }
   }
 });
+
+test('when command without name passed to .addCommand then throw', () => {
+  const program = new commander.Command();
+  const cmd = new commander.Command();
+  expect(() => {
+    program.addCommand(cmd);
+  }).toThrow();
+});