diff --git a/cosserat-continuum.cc b/cosserat-continuum.cc
index e21d0be5772a38f632e54d5219d0b3d27a0519fb..e49e21b8eea42fbdc6ca90720160757e3566dfcf 100644
--- a/cosserat-continuum.cc
+++ b/cosserat-continuum.cc
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ int main (int argc, char *argv[]) try
 
     // parse data file
     ParameterTree parameterSet;
-    if (argc != 2)
+    if (argc < 2)
       DUNE_THROW(Exception, "Usage: ./cosserat-continuum <parameter file>");
 
     ParameterTreeParser::readINITree(argv[1], parameterSet);