diff --git a/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/error.desc b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/error.desc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..bd5dcef05e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/error.desc
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+CORE
+
+-c main1.c main2.c -o outfile
+^EXIT=1$
+^SIGNAL=0$
+^cannot specify -o with -c with multiple files$
+--
diff --git a/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main1.c b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main1.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..859ed91d505
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main1.c
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// blank
diff --git a/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main2.c b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main2.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..859ed91d505
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regression/goto-gcc/multiple-sources/main2.c
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// blank
diff --git a/src/goto-cc/gcc_mode.cpp b/src/goto-cc/gcc_mode.cpp
index 24d7369b99f..07ebb10768d 100644
--- a/src/goto-cc/gcc_mode.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-cc/gcc_mode.cpp
@@ -723,6 +723,14 @@ int gcc_modet::doit()
     }
   }
 
+  if(
+    cmdline.isset('o') && cmdline.isset('c') &&
+    compiler.source_files.size() >= 2)
+  {
+    error() << "cannot specify -o with -c with multiple files" << eom;
+    return 1; // to match gcc's behaviour
+  }
+
   // Revert to gcc in case there is no source to compile
   // and no binary to link.