diff --git a/gdb-port/utility-commands.py b/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
index f446ec887d2deb2e1edb267d2caea0dd60c54879..df25c1077c5bb5c89fbbaf69500c8534c608f6d6 100644
--- a/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
+++ b/gdb-port/utility-commands.py
@@ -17,7 +17,17 @@ class HammerParseStep(gdb.Command):
 
 	def invoke(self, arg, from_tty):
 		args = gdb.string_to_argv(arg)
-		steps = int(args[0])
+		if len(args) > 0:
+			try:
+				steps = int(args[0])
+				if steps < 1:
+					raise ValueError
+			except ValueError:
+				print("Arugment needs to be a positive integer")
+				return
+		else:
+			steps = 1
+
 		gdb.set_convenience_variable("hammer_step_counter", int(steps))
 		# Counting the stops is the responsibility of HDoParseBreakpoint
 		# On each breakpoint hit, something like this is executed in HDoParseBreakpoint.stop():