diff --git a/tar.1 b/tar.1
index 8394fdb..7cc34b4 100644
--- a/tar.1
+++ b/tar.1
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ before beginning.
 .It Fl f Ar file
 Set
 .Ar file
-as input | output archive instead of stdin | stdout.
+as input | output archive instead of stdin | stdout. If '-',
+stdin | stdout is used.
 .It Fl m
 Do not preserve modification time.
 .It Fl t
diff --git a/tar.c b/tar.c
index b4ba2d6..10b2024 100644
--- a/tar.c
+++ b/tar.c
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	switch (mode) {
 	case 'c':
 		tarfd = 1;
-		if (file) {
+		if (file && *file != '-') {
 			tarfd = open(file, O_WRONLY | O_TRUNC | O_CREAT, 0644);
 			if (tarfd < 0)
 				eprintf("open %s:", file);
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	case 't':
 	case 'x':
 		tarfd = 0;
-		if (file) {
+		if (file && *file != '-') {
 			tarfd = open(file, O_RDONLY);
 			if (tarfd < 0)
 				eprintf("open %s:", file);