diff --git a/cmd/abigen/main.go b/cmd/abigen/main.go
index f37f5a3c4c..0e5ece422a 100644
--- a/cmd/abigen/main.go
+++ b/cmd/abigen/main.go
@@ -98,8 +98,12 @@ func abigen(c *cli.Context) error {
 	if c.String(pkgFlag.Name) == "" {
 		utils.Fatalf("No destination package specified (--pkg)")
 	}
-	if c.String(abiFlag.Name) == "" {
-		utils.Fatalf("No contract ABI source specified (--abi)")
+	if c.String(abiFlag.Name) == "" && c.String(jsonFlag.Name) == "" {
+		utils.Fatalf("Either contract ABI source (--abi) or combined-json (--combined-json) are required")
+	}
+	
+	if c.String(abiFlag.Name) != "" && c.String(jsonFlag.Name) != "" {
+		utils.Fatalf("contract ABI source (--abi) and combined-json (--combined-json) are mutually-exclusive")
 	}
 	var lang bind.Lang
 	switch c.String(langFlag.Name) {