diff --git a/frontend/dockerfile/parser/parser.go b/frontend/dockerfile/parser/parser.go
index 0453f3a9a2ae..262a76813374 100644
--- a/frontend/dockerfile/parser/parser.go
+++ b/frontend/dockerfile/parser/parser.go
@@ -275,6 +275,11 @@ func Parse(rwc io.Reader) (*Result, error) {
 	if len(warnings) > 0 {
 		warnings = append(warnings, "[WARNING]: Empty continuation lines will become errors in a future release.")
 	}
+
+	if root.StartLine < 0 {
+		return nil, errors.New("file with no instructions.")
+	}
+
 	return &Result{
 		AST:         root,
 		Warnings:    warnings,
diff --git a/frontend/dockerfile/parser/testfiles-negative/empty_dockerfile/Dockerfile b/frontend/dockerfile/parser/testfiles-negative/empty_dockerfile/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e69de29bb2d1
diff --git a/frontend/dockerfile/parser/testfiles-negative/only_comments/Dockerfile b/frontend/dockerfile/parser/testfiles-negative/only_comments/Dockerfile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..5dd027a67827
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/dockerfile/parser/testfiles-negative/only_comments/Dockerfile
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Hello
+# These are just comments
+