diff --git a/bin/tools/RunFunctions b/bin/tools/RunFunctions
index 1f21022b23..55776db644 100644
--- a/bin/tools/RunFunctions
+++ b/bin/tools/RunFunctions
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # =========                 |
 # \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
 #  \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
-#   \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2022 OpenFOAM Foundation
+#   \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2024 OpenFOAM Foundation
 #    \\/     M anipulation  |
 #------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # License
@@ -86,9 +86,15 @@ runApplication()
         shift
     done
 
+    if [ -z "$APP_RUN" ]
+    then
+        echo "Error: application not specified"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
     if [ -f log.$LOG_SUFFIX ] && [ "$LOG_IGNORE" = "false" ]
     then
-        echo "$APP_NAME already run on $PWD:" \
+        echo "$APP_RUN already run on $PWD:" \
              "remove log file 'log.$LOG_SUFFIX' to re-run"
     else
         echo "Running $APP_RUN on $PWD"
@@ -137,9 +143,15 @@ runParallel()
         shift
     done
 
+    if [ -z "$APP_RUN" ]
+    then
+        echo "Error: application not specified"
+        return 1
+    fi
+
     if [ -f log.$LOG_SUFFIX ] && [ "$LOG_IGNORE" = "false" ]
     then
-        echo "$APP_NAME already run on $PWD:" \
+        echo "$APP_RUN already run on $PWD:" \
              "remove log file 'log.$LOG_SUFFIX' to re-run"
     else
         echo "Running $APP_RUN in parallel on $PWD using $nProcs processes"