diff --git a/dist/tools/usb-serial/ttys.py b/dist/tools/usb-serial/ttys.py
index 13bf872416..dd1bc4883e 100755
--- a/dist/tools/usb-serial/ttys.py
+++ b/dist/tools/usb-serial/ttys.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ def generate_filters(args):
     Generate filters for use in the filters_match function from the command
     line arguments
     """
-    result = list()
+    result = []
     if args.serial is not None:
         result.append(("serial", re.compile(r"^" + re.escape(args.serial)
                        + r"$")))
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ def print_ttys(args):
         else:
             ttys = []
 
+    if len(ttys) == 0:
+        sys.exit(1)
+
     print_results(args, ttys)