diff --git a/hgext/rebase.py b/hgext/rebase.py
--- a/hgext/rebase.py
+++ b/hgext/rebase.py
@@ -662,6 +662,16 @@ def rebase(ui, repo, **opts):
 
           hg rebase -r "branch(featureX)" -d 1.3 --keepbranches
 
+    Configuration Options:
+
+    You can make rebase require a destination if you set the following config
+    option:
+
+      [commands]
+      rebase.requiredest = False
+
+    Return Values:
+
     Returns 0 on success, 1 if nothing to rebase or there are
     unresolved conflicts.
 
@@ -675,6 +685,12 @@ def rebase(ui, repo, **opts):
 
         # Validate input and define rebasing points
         destf = opts.get('dest', None)
+
+        if ui.config('commands', 'rebase.requiredest', False):
+            if not destf:
+                raise error.Abort(_('you must specify a destination'),
+                                  hint=_('use: hg rebase -d REV'))
+
         srcf = opts.get('source', None)
         basef = opts.get('base', None)
         revf = opts.get('rev', [])
diff --git a/tests/test-rebase-base.t b/tests/test-rebase-base.t
--- a/tests/test-rebase-base.t
+++ b/tests/test-rebase-base.t
@@ -391,3 +391,25 @@ Multiple roots. Two children share two p
    /
   o  0: A
   
+Require a destination
+  $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
+  > [commands]
+  > rebase.requiredest = True
+  > EOF
+  $ hg init repo
+  $ cd repo
+  $ echo a >> a
+  $ hg commit -qAm aa
+  $ echo b >> b
+  $ hg commit -qAm bb
+  $ hg up ".^"
+  0 files updated, 0 files merged, 1 files removed, 0 files unresolved
+  $ echo c >> c
+  $ hg commit -qAm cc
+  $ hg rebase
+  abort: you must specify a destination
+  (use: hg rebase -d REV)
+  [255]
+  $ hg rebase -d 1
+  rebasing 2:5db65b93a12b "cc" (tip)
+  saved backup bundle to $TESTTMP/repo/.hg/strip-backup/5db65b93a12b-4fb789ec-backup.hg (glob)