diff --git a/codespell_lib/_codespell.py b/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
index 86cc2c07b19..177a0559664 100644
--- a/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
+++ b/codespell_lib/_codespell.py
@@ -872,27 +872,56 @@ def main(*args):
 
         if os.path.isdir(filename):
             for root, dirs, files in os.walk(filename):
-                if glob_match.match(root):  # skip (absolute) directories
-                    del dirs[:]
-                    continue
-                if is_hidden(root, options.check_hidden):  # dir itself hidden
+                # skip (absolute) directories
+                try:
+                    if glob_match.match(root):
+                        del dirs[:]
+                        continue
+                except re.error:
+                    print("ERROR: --skip/-S has been fed an invalid glob",
+                          file=sys.stderr)
+                    return EX_USAGE
+                # ignore hidden directories
+                if is_hidden(root, options.check_hidden):
                     continue
                 for file_ in files:
                     # ignore hidden files in directories
                     if is_hidden(file_, options.check_hidden):
                         continue
-                    if glob_match.match(file_):  # skip files
-                        continue
+                    # skip files
+                    try:
+                        if glob_match.match(file_):
+                            continue
+                    except re.error:
+                        print("ERROR: --skip/-S has been fed an invalid glob",
+                              file=sys.stderr)
+                        return EX_USAGE
                     fname = os.path.join(root, file_)
-                    if glob_match.match(fname):  # skip paths
-                        continue
+                    # skip paths
+                    try:
+                        if glob_match.match(fname):
+                            continue
+                    except re.error:
+                        print("ERROR: --skip/-S has been fed an invalid glob",
+                              file=sys.stderr)
+                        return EX_USAGE
+
                     bad_count += parse_file(
                         fname, colors, summary, misspellings, exclude_lines,
                         file_opener, word_regex, ignore_word_regex, uri_regex,
                         uri_ignore_words, context, options)
 
                 # skip (relative) directories
-                dirs[:] = [dir_ for dir_ in dirs if not glob_match.match(dir_)]
+                try:
+                    dirs[:] = [
+                        dir_
+                        for dir_ in dirs
+                        if not glob_match.match(dir_)
+                    ]
+                except re.error:
+                    print("ERROR: --skip/-S has been fed an invalid glob",
+                          file=sys.stderr)
+                    return EX_USAGE
 
         elif not glob_match.match(filename):  # skip files
             bad_count += parse_file(
diff --git a/codespell_lib/tests/test_basic.py b/codespell_lib/tests/test_basic.py
index bbf2ea47ddb..4a8577c89eb 100644
--- a/codespell_lib/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/codespell_lib/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -99,6 +99,10 @@ def test_basic(tmpdir, capsys):
     assert 'cannot find dictionary' in stderr
     os.remove(fname)
 
+    code, _, stderr = cs.main('--skip', 'file with [weird signs b-a].txt',
+                              f.name, std=True)
+    assert code == EX_USAGE, 'invalid glob'
+
     with open(op.join(d, 'bad.txt'), 'w') as f:
         f.write('abandonned\nAbandonned\nABANDONNED\nAbAnDoNnEd')
     assert cs.main(d) == 4