diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -4934,10 +4934,13 @@ def resolve(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
     m = scmutil.match(repo[None], pats, opts)
     ret = 0
 
+    didwork = False
     for f in ms:
         if not m(f):
             continue
 
+        didwork = True
+
         if show:
             if nostatus:
                 ui.write("%s\n" % f)
@@ -4970,6 +4973,10 @@ def resolve(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
             util.rename(a + ".resolve", a + ".orig")
 
     ms.commit()
+
+    if not didwork and pats:
+        ui.warn(_("arguments do not match paths that need resolved\n"))
+
     return ret
 
 @command('revert',
diff --git a/tests/test-resolve.t b/tests/test-resolve.t
--- a/tests/test-resolve.t
+++ b/tests/test-resolve.t
@@ -31,6 +31,10 @@ resolve -l should contain an unresolved 
   $ hg resolve -l
   U file
 
+resolving an unknown path emits a warning
+  $ hg resolve -m does-not-exist
+  arguments do not match paths that need resolved
+
 resolve the failure
 
   $ echo resolved > file