diff --git a/mercurial/cmdutil.py b/mercurial/cmdutil.py
--- a/mercurial/cmdutil.py
+++ b/mercurial/cmdutil.py
@@ -2627,6 +2627,9 @@ def getloglinerangerevs(repo, userrevs, 
     # Two-levels map of "rev -> file ctx -> [line range]".
     linerangesbyrev = {}
     for fname, (fromline, toline) in _parselinerangelogopt(repo, opts):
+        if fname not in wctx:
+            raise error.Abort(_('cannot follow file not in parent '
+                                'revision: "%s"') % fname)
         fctx = wctx.filectx(fname)
         for fctx, linerange in dagop.blockancestors(fctx, fromline, toline):
             rev = fctx.introrev()
diff --git a/tests/test-log-linerange.t b/tests/test-log-linerange.t
--- a/tests/test-log-linerange.t
+++ b/tests/test-log-linerange.t
@@ -842,6 +842,14 @@ Non-exact pattern kinds are not allowed.
   hg: parse error: line range pattern 'glob:*a*' must match exactly one file
   [255]
 
+We get an error for removed files.
+
+  $ hg rm dir/baz
+  $ hg ci -m 'remove baz' --quiet
+  $ hg log -f -L dir/baz,5:7 -p
+  abort: cannot follow file not in parent revision: "dir/baz"
+  [255]
+
 Graph log does work yet.
 
   $ hg log -f -L dir/baz,5:7 --graph