diff --git a/avocado/core/loader.py b/avocado/core/loader.py
index 63635fe6868db80490d1bb363b7ffd4abf11e4c9..5009a3a61964b13b457b29bc679c910b2c7cf9d2 100644
--- a/avocado/core/loader.py
+++ b/avocado/core/loader.py
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ class ExternalLoader(TestLoader):
                             DEFAULT)
         :return: list of matching tests
         """
-        if not self._external_runner:
+        if (not self._external_runner) or (url is None):
             return []
         return [(test.ExternalRunnerTest, {'name': url, 'external_runner':
                                            self._external_runner})]
diff --git a/selftests/functional/test_basic.py b/selftests/functional/test_basic.py
index e77ff7aa1c2b1b2c75810bc8e776e516069e19c8..0c44d483feea79e1059775abfaf2de9e871f68c8 100644
--- a/selftests/functional/test_basic.py
+++ b/selftests/functional/test_basic.py
@@ -612,6 +612,18 @@ class ExternalRunnerTest(unittest.TestCase):
                          "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" %
                          (expected_rc, result))
 
+    def test_externalrunner_no_url(self):
+        os.chdir(basedir)
+        cmd_line = ('./scripts/avocado run --job-results-dir %s --sysinfo=off '
+                    '--external-runner=/bin/true' % self.tmpdir)
+        result = process.run(cmd_line, ignore_status=True)
+        expected_output = ('No tests found for given urls')
+        self.assertIn(expected_output, result.stderr)
+        expected_rc = exit_codes.AVOCADO_JOB_FAIL
+        self.assertEqual(result.exit_status, expected_rc,
+                         "Avocado did not return rc %d:\n%s" %
+                         (expected_rc, result))
+
     def tearDown(self):
         self.pass_script.remove()
         self.fail_script.remove()