diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py b/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
index fd2d2dcfeab..a9599da1a47 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/__init__.py
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class CLI(object):
             self.options.become_method = 'su'
 
 
-    def validate_conflicts(self, vault_opts=False, runas_opts=False):
+    def validate_conflicts(self, vault_opts=False, runas_opts=False, fork_opts=False):
         ''' check for conflicting options '''
 
         op = self.options
@@ -211,6 +211,10 @@ class CLI(object):
                                   "and become arguments ('--become', '--become-user', and '--ask-become-pass')"
                                   " are exclusive of each other")
 
+        if fork_opts:
+            if op.forks < 1:
+                self.parser.error("The number of processes (--forks) must be >= 1")
+
     @staticmethod
     def expand_tilde(option, opt, value, parser):
         setattr(parser.values, option.dest, os.path.expanduser(value))
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/adhoc.py b/lib/ansible/cli/adhoc.py
index 71c76374c3a..a92869fafe7 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/adhoc.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/adhoc.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class AdHocCLI(CLI):
             raise AnsibleOptionsError("Missing target hosts")
 
         self.display.verbosity = self.options.verbosity
-        self.validate_conflicts(runas_opts=True, vault_opts=True)
+        self.validate_conflicts(runas_opts=True, vault_opts=True, fork_opts=True)
 
         return True
 
diff --git a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
index 08bbb64f973..474c0b6b9ad 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/cli/playbook.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class PlaybookCLI(CLI):
             raise AnsibleOptionsError("You must specify a playbook file to run")
 
         self.display.verbosity = self.options.verbosity
-        self.validate_conflicts(runas_opts=True, vault_opts=True)
+        self.validate_conflicts(runas_opts=True, vault_opts=True, fork_opts=True)
 
     def run(self):