diff --git a/.changeset/bright-mugs-remember.md b/.changeset/bright-mugs-remember.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b1746aee4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/bright-mugs-remember.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/cli': patch
+---
+
+The `versions:bump` command will now reject `*` as a pattern.
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/commands/versions/bump.ts b/packages/cli/src/commands/versions/bump.ts
index 1e1e5deff2..6f8ce0a8a0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/commands/versions/bump.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/commands/versions/bump.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ export default async (opts: OptionValues) => {
   if (!pattern) {
     console.log(`Using default pattern glob ${DEFAULT_PATTERN_GLOB}`);
     pattern = DEFAULT_PATTERN_GLOB;
+  } else if (pattern === '*') {
+    throw new Error(`Rejected pattern '*', please use a more specific pattern`);
   } else {
     console.log(`Using custom pattern glob ${pattern}`);
   }