diff --git a/Documentation/git-stash.txt b/Documentation/git-stash.txt
index 1c4ed412a1..30a249cbc5 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-stash.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-stash.txt
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ SYNOPSIS
 'git stash' ( pop | apply ) [--index] [-q|--quiet] [<stash>]
 'git stash' branch <branchname> [<stash>]
 'git stash' [save [--patch] [-k|--[no-]keep-index] [-q|--quiet] [<message>]]
-'git stash' [-p|--patch|-k|--keep-index]
 'git stash' clear
 'git stash' create
 
@@ -46,9 +45,11 @@ OPTIONS
 save [--patch] [--[no-]keep-index] [-q|--quiet] [<message>]::
 
 	Save your local modifications to a new 'stash', and run `git reset
-	--hard` to revert them.  This is the default action when no
-	subcommand is given. The <message> part is optional and gives
-	the description along with the stashed state.
+	--hard` to revert them.  The <message> part is optional and gives
+	the description along with the stashed state.  For quickly making
+	a snapshot, you can omit _both_ "save" and <message>, but giving
+	only <message> does not trigger this action to prevent a misspelled
+	subcommand from making an unwanted stash.
 +
 If the `--keep-index` option is used, all changes already added to the
 index are left intact.
diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 9fd72894c4..f24337613b 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ USAGE="list [<options>]
    or: $dashless ( pop | apply ) [--index] [-q|--quiet] [<stash>]
    or: $dashless branch <branchname> [<stash>]
    or: $dashless [save [-k|--keep-index] [-q|--quiet] [<message>]]
-   or: $dashless [-k|--keep-index]
    or: $dashless clear"
 
 SUBDIRECTORY_OK=Yes
@@ -146,6 +145,14 @@ save_stash () {
 		-q|--quiet)
 			GIT_QUIET=t
 			;;
+		--)
+			shift
+			break
+			;;
+		-*)
+			echo "error: unknown option for 'stash save': $1"
+			usage
+			;;
 		*)
 			break
 			;;
@@ -355,6 +362,18 @@ apply_to_branch () {
 	drop_stash $stash
 }
 
+# The default command is "save" if nothing but options are given
+seen_non_option=
+for opt
+do
+	case "$opt" in
+	-*) ;;
+	*) seen_non_option=t; break ;;
+	esac
+done
+
+test -n "$seen_non_option" || set "save" "$@"
+
 # Main command set
 case "$1" in
 list)
@@ -406,9 +425,9 @@ branch)
 	apply_to_branch "$@"
 	;;
 *)
-	case $#,"$1","$2" in
-	0,,|1,-k,|1,--keep-index,|1,-p,|1,--patch,|2,-p,--no-keep-index|2,--patch,--no-keep-index)
-		save_stash "$@" &&
+	case $# in
+	0)
+		save_stash &&
 		say '(To restore them type "git stash apply")'
 		;;
 	*)
diff --git a/t/t3903-stash.sh b/t/t3903-stash.sh
index e16ad93d2c..5514f74b30 100755
--- a/t/t3903-stash.sh
+++ b/t/t3903-stash.sh
@@ -208,4 +208,15 @@ test_expect_success 'stash -k' '
 	test bar,bar4 = $(cat file),$(cat file2)
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'stash --invalid-option' '
+	echo bar5 > file &&
+	echo bar6 > file2 &&
+	git add file2 &&
+	test_must_fail git stash --invalid-option &&
+	test_must_fail git stash save --invalid-option &&
+	test bar5,bar6 = $(cat file),$(cat file2) &&
+	git stash -- -message-starting-with-dash &&
+	test bar,bar2 = $(cat file),$(cat file2)
+'
+
 test_done