diff --git a/life.c b/life.c
--- a/life.c
+++ b/life.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@
 {
     char *arena[MAX];
 
-    if (argc > 2)
+    if (argc > 1)
         printf ("Usage: %s\n", argv[0]);
 
     if (init_life (arena) == 0)