diff --git a/wp-includes/widgets.php b/wp-includes/widgets.php
index 40bf54c528..7c282c52d7 100644
--- a/wp-includes/widgets.php
+++ b/wp-includes/widgets.php
@@ -803,6 +803,10 @@ function register_sidebar($args = array()) {
 
 	$i = count($wp_registered_sidebars) + 1;
 
+	if ( empty( $args['id'] ) ) {
+		_doing_it_wrong( __FUNCTION__, sprintf( __( 'You should set %s in the arguments array.' ), 'id' ), '4.2.0' );
+	}
+
 	$defaults = array(
 		'name' => sprintf(__('Sidebar %d'), $i ),
 		'id' => "sidebar-$i",