diff --git a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
index cb6bf30bcf..869799f6bb 100644
--- a/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
+++ b/src/calibre/web/feeds/news.py
@@ -842,6 +842,9 @@ class BasicNewsRecipe(Recipe):
         except NotImplementedError:
             feeds = self.parse_feeds()
 
+        if not feeds:
+            raise ValueError('No articles found, aborting')
+
         #feeds = FeedCollection(feeds)
 
         self.report_progress(0, _('Trying to download cover...'))