diff --git a/mesonbuild/build.py b/mesonbuild/build.py
index 2a71b8b4b..2840f2984 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/build.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/build.py
@@ -863,6 +863,8 @@ You probably should put it in link_with instead.''')
 
     def link(self, target):
         for t in listify(target, unholder=True):
+            if not isinstance(t, Target):
+                raise InvalidArguments('{!r} is not a target.'.format(t))
             if not t.is_linkable_target():
                 raise InvalidArguments('Link target {!r} is not linkable.'.format(t))
             if isinstance(self, SharedLibrary) and isinstance(t, StaticLibrary) and not t.pic:
diff --git a/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/meson.build b/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/meson.build
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cb83fff6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/meson.build	
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+project('string as link argument', 'c')
+executable('myprog', 'prog.c', link_with: [ '' ])
diff --git a/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/prog.c b/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/prog.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0314ff17b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test cases/failing/66 string as link target/prog.c	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+int main(int argc, char **argv) { return 0; }