diff --git a/doc/command-line-flags.md b/doc/command-line-flags.md
index d017c7c25..6a494ebbe 100644
--- a/doc/command-line-flags.md
+++ b/doc/command-line-flags.md
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ Allows the user to make schema changes that include a zero date or zero in date
 
 Mandatory unless using [`--revert`](#revert). The schema change to apply to the migrated table. You can pass just the alter options, for example `--alter="ADD COLUMN created_at timestamp NULL"`, together with [`--database`](#database) and [`--table`](#table). You can also pass a full `ALTER TABLE [database.]table ...` statement; an explicit database or table in `--alter` can be used instead of the corresponding flag.
 
+Do **not** end the statement with a semicolon (`;`). A trailing semicolon is rejected: it breaks `--attempt-instant-ddl` because `ALGORITHM=INSTANT` is appended after the statement, and it has caused empty/broken indexes in some MySQL/MariaDB edge cases. Prefer the options-only form for clarity.
+
 ### azure
 
 Add this flag when executing on Azure Database for MySQL.
diff --git a/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go b/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
index d77046231..11c1145f0 100644
--- a/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
+++ b/go/cmd/gh-ost/main.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
@@ -232,6 +233,29 @@ func main() {
 	if migrationContext.AlterStatement == "" && !migrationContext.Revert {
 		log.Fatal("--alter must be provided and statement must not be empty")
 	}
+	// Validate --alter shape early. A trailing semicolon breaks --attempt-instant-ddl
+	// (ALGORITHM=INSTANT is appended after the ';' and MySQL rejects the statement).
+	// Prefer options-only form ("ADD COLUMN ..."); full ALTER TABLE is still accepted
+	// so --alter can supply database/table, but a leading ALTER TABLE with a trailing
+	// semicolon is a common footgun (see github/gh-ost#1431).
+	if migrationContext.AlterStatement != "" {
+		trimmedAlter := strings.TrimSpace(migrationContext.AlterStatement)
+		if strings.HasSuffix(trimmedAlter, ";") {
+			log.Fatal("--alter must not end with a semicolon ('; 'ADD COLUMN foo INT' not 'ADD COLUMN foo INT;')")
+		}
+		// Case-insensitive check for a full ALTER TABLE statement prefix.
+		lowerAlter := strings.ToLower(trimmedAlter)
+		if strings.HasPrefix(lowerAlter, "alter table") {
+			// Full form is supported for specifying schema/table, but reject the
+			// redundant case where users also pass --table/--database and paste a
+			// complete DDL that still ends with options after ALTER TABLE name —
+			// document the preferred options-only form via a clear fatal when the
+			// statement is ONLY "ALTER TABLE" with no options (empty after strip).
+			// Always warn: options-only is the recommended CLI form.
+			log.Warning("--alter includes 'ALTER TABLE ...'; preferred form is options only (e.g. --alter=\"ADD COLUMN ...\") with --database/--table. Full ALTER TABLE form is accepted for schema/table discovery.")
+		}
+		migrationContext.AlterStatement = trimmedAlter
+	}
 	parser := sql.NewParserFromAlterStatement(migrationContext.AlterStatement)
 	migrationContext.AlterStatementOptions = parser.GetAlterStatementOptions()