diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/docs/antora/modules/maven-plugin/pages/packaging.adoc b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/docs/antora/modules/maven-plugin/pages/packaging.adoc
index f51cdeb616..1d1fe87d9f 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/docs/antora/modules/maven-plugin/pages/packaging.adoc
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/docs/antora/modules/maven-plugin/pages/packaging.adoc
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ Packaging an executable archive is performed by the `repackage` goal, as shown i
 include::example$packaging/repackage-pom.xml[tags=repackage]
 ----
 
+WARNING: The `repackage` goal is not meant to be used alone on the command-line as it operates on the source
+`jar` (or `war`) produced by the `package` phase.
+To use this goal on the command-line, you must include the `package` phase: `mvn package spring-boot:repackage`.
+
 TIP: If you are using `spring-boot-starter-parent`, such execution is already pre-configured with a `repackage` execution ID so that only the plugin definition should be added.
 
 The example above repackages a `jar` or `war` archive that is built during the package phase of the Maven lifecycle, including any `provided` dependencies that are defined in the project.
diff --git a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/maven/RepackageMojo.java b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/maven/RepackageMojo.java
index e3a6534418..1808a6380d 100644
--- a/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/maven/RepackageMojo.java
+++ b/spring-boot-project/spring-boot-tools/spring-boot-maven-plugin/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/maven/RepackageMojo.java
@@ -221,6 +221,10 @@ public class RepackageMojo extends AbstractPackagerMojo {
 	private void repackage() throws MojoExecutionException {
 		Artifact source = getSourceArtifact(this.classifier);
 		File target = getTargetFile(this.finalName, this.classifier, this.outputDirectory);
+		if (source.getFile() == null) {
+			throw new MojoExecutionException(
+					"Source file is not available, make sure 'package' runs as part of the same lifecycle");
+		}
 		Repackager repackager = getRepackager(source.getFile());
 		Libraries libraries = getLibraries(this.requiresUnpack);
 		try {