diff --git a/shell/mongo_vstudio.cpp b/shell/mongo_vstudio.cpp
index d27c85df8b7..726100924c5 100644
--- a/shell/mongo_vstudio.cpp
+++ b/shell/mongo_vstudio.cpp
@@ -1049,9 +1049,14 @@ const StringData _jscode_raw_utils =
 "return res;\n" 
 "}\n" 
 "\n" 
-"shellHelper.use = function( dbname ){\n" 
-"db = db.getMongo().getDB( dbname );\n" 
-"print( \"switched to db \" + db.getName() );\n" 
+"shellHelper.use = function (dbname) {\n" 
+"var s = \"\" + dbname;\n" 
+"if (s == \"\") {\n" 
+"print(\"bad use parameter\");\n" 
+"return;\n" 
+"}\n" 
+"db = db.getMongo().getDB(dbname);\n" 
+"print(\"switched to db \" + db.getName());\n" 
 "}\n" 
 "\n" 
 "shellHelper.it = function(){\n" 
diff --git a/shell/utils.js b/shell/utils.js
index ea6475a55a8..50be66e63d8 100644
--- a/shell/utils.js
+++ b/shell/utils.js
@@ -1042,11 +1042,16 @@ shellHelper = function( command , rest , shouldPrint ){
         shellPrintHelper( res );
     }
     return res;
-}
-
-shellHelper.use = function( dbname ){
-    db = db.getMongo().getDB( dbname );
-    print( "switched to db " + db.getName() );
+}
+
+shellHelper.use = function (dbname) {
+    var s = "" + dbname;
+    if (s == "") {
+        print("bad use parameter");
+        return;
+    }
+    db = db.getMongo().getDB(dbname);
+    print("switched to db " + db.getName());
 }
 
 shellHelper.it = function(){