diff --git a/gcc/gcc.c b/gcc/gcc.c
index 76f1d422f9a..7837553958b 100644
--- a/gcc/gcc.c
+++ b/gcc/gcc.c
@@ -9020,8 +9020,15 @@ driver::maybe_run_linker (const char *argv0) const
     for (i = 0; (int) i < n_infiles; i++)
       if (explicit_link_files[i]
 	  && !(infiles[i].language && infiles[i].language[0] == '*'))
-	warning (0, "%s: linker input file unused because linking not done",
-		 outfiles[i]);
+	{
+	  warning (0, "%s: linker input file unused because linking not done",
+		   outfiles[i]);
+	  if (access (outfiles[i], F_OK) < 0)
+	    /* This is can be an indication the user specifed an errorneous
+	       separated option value, (or used the wrong prefix for an
+	       option).  */
+	    error ("%s: linker input file not found: %m", outfiles[i]);
+	}
 }
 
 /* The end of "main".  */
diff --git a/gcc/testsuite/c-c++-common/pr98943.c b/gcc/testsuite/c-c++-common/pr98943.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..53d8838f242
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gcc/testsuite/c-c++-common/pr98943.c
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+// { dg-do compile }
+// PR 98943, compiler feature tests can get confused by not linking
+// { dg-options "NOTAFILE" }
+
+int main ()
+{
+  return 0;
+}
+
+// { dg-regexp {[^\n:]*: warning: NOTAFILE: linker input file unused because linking not done\n[^\n:]*: error: NOTAFILE: linker input file not found: [^\n]*\n} }