diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -2515,6 +2515,8 @@ def tag(ui, repo, name, rev_=None, **opt
         rev_ = opts['rev']
     message = opts['message']
     if opts['remove']:
+        if not name in repo.tags(): 
+            raise util.Abort(_('tag %s does not exist') % name)
         rev_ = nullid
         if not message:
             message = _('Removed tag %s') % name