diff --git a/src/tools/jsondocck/src/main.rs b/src/tools/jsondocck/src/main.rs
index 29131f686a9dc..6ec292aba6495 100644
--- a/src/tools/jsondocck/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/tools/jsondocck/src/main.rs
@@ -149,7 +149,22 @@ fn get_commands(template: &str) -> Result<Vec<Command>, ()> {
             }
         }
 
-        let args = cap.name("args").map_or(vec![], |m| shlex::split(m.as_str()).unwrap());
+        let args = cap.name("args").map_or(Some(vec![]), |m| shlex::split(m.as_str()));
+
+        let args = match args {
+            Some(args) => args,
+            None => {
+                print_err(
+                    &format!(
+                        "Invalid arguments to shlex::split: `{}`",
+                        cap.name("args").unwrap().as_str()
+                    ),
+                    lineno,
+                );
+                errors = true;
+                continue;
+            }
+        };
 
         if !cmd.validate(&args, commands.len(), lineno) {
             errors = true;