diff --git a/gdb/exec.c b/gdb/exec.c
--- a/gdb/exec.c
+++ b/gdb/exec.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.  */
 
 #include "defs.h"
+#include "arch-utils.h"
+#include "exceptions.h"
 #include "frame.h"
 #include "inferior.h"
 #include "target.h"
@@ -345,12 +347,27 @@ exec_file_attach (const char *filename, int from_tty)
 
       if (!bfd_check_format_matches (exec_bfd, bfd_object, &matching))
 	{
+	  int is_core;
+
+	  /* If the user accidentally did "gdb core", print a useful
+	     error message.  Check it only after bfd_object has been checked as
+	     a valid executable may get recognized for example also as
+	     "trad-core".  */
+	  is_core = bfd_check_format (exec_bfd, bfd_core);
+
 	  /* Make sure to close exec_bfd, or else "run" might try to use
 	     it.  */
 	  exec_close ();
-	  error (_("\"%s\": not in executable format: %s"),
-		 scratch_pathname,
-		 gdb_bfd_errmsg (bfd_get_error (), matching).c_str ());
+
+	  if (is_core != 0)
+	    throw_error (IS_CORE_ERROR,
+			 _("\"%s\" is a core file.\n"
+			   "Please specify an executable to debug."),
+			 scratch_pathname);
+	  else
+	    error (_("\"%ss\": not in executable format: %s"),
+		   scratch_pathname,
+		   gdb_bfd_errmsg (bfd_get_error (), matching).c_str ());
 	}
 
       if (build_section_table (exec_bfd, &sections, &sections_end))
diff --git a/gdb/gdbsupport/common-exceptions.h b/gdb/gdbsupport/common-exceptions.h
--- a/gdb/gdbsupport/common-exceptions.h
+++ b/gdb/gdbsupport/common-exceptions.h
@@ -106,6 +106,9 @@ enum errors {
      "_ERROR" is appended to the name.  */
   MAX_COMPLETIONS_REACHED_ERROR,
 
+  /* Attempt to load a core file as executable.  */
+  IS_CORE_ERROR,
+
   /* Add more errors here.  */
   NR_ERRORS
 };
diff --git a/gdb/main.c b/gdb/main.c
--- a/gdb/main.c
+++ b/gdb/main.c
@@ -467,6 +467,34 @@ struct cmdarg
   char *string;
 };
 
+/* Call exec_file_attach.  If it detected FILENAME is a core file call
+   core_file_command.  Print the original exec_file_attach error only if
+   core_file_command failed to find a matching executable.  */
+
+static void
+exec_or_core_file_attach (const char *filename, int from_tty)
+{
+  gdb_assert (exec_bfd == NULL);
+
+  try
+    {
+      exec_file_attach (filename, from_tty);
+    }
+  catch (gdb_exception_error &e)
+    {
+      if (e.error == IS_CORE_ERROR)
+	{
+	  core_file_command ((char *) filename, from_tty);
+
+	  /* Iff the core file found its executable suppress the error message
+	     from exec_file_attach.  */
+	  if (exec_bfd != NULL)
+	    return;
+	}
+      throw_exception (std::move (e));
+    }
+}
+
 static void
 captured_main_1 (struct captured_main_args *context)
 {
@@ -907,6 +935,8 @@ captured_main_1 (struct captured_main_args *context)
 	{
 	  symarg = argv[optind];
 	  execarg = argv[optind];
+	  if (optind + 1 == argc && corearg == NULL)
+	    corearg = argv[optind];
 	  optind++;
 	}
 
@@ -1063,12 +1093,25 @@ captured_main_1 (struct captured_main_args *context)
       && symarg != NULL
       && strcmp (execarg, symarg) == 0)
     {
+      catch_command_errors_const_ftype *func;
+
+      /* Call exec_or_core_file_attach only if the file was specified as
+	 a command line argument (and not an a command line option).  */
+      if (corearg != NULL && strcmp (corearg, execarg) == 0)
+	{
+	  func = exec_or_core_file_attach;
+	  corearg = NULL;
+	}
+      else
+	func = exec_file_attach;
+
       /* The exec file and the symbol-file are the same.  If we can't
          open it, better only print one error message.
-         catch_command_errors returns non-zero on success!  */
-      ret = catch_command_errors (exec_file_attach, execarg,
-				  !batch_flag);
-      if (ret != 0)
+         catch_command_errors returns non-zero on success!
+	 Do not load EXECARG as a symbol file if it has been already processed
+	 as a core file.  */
+      ret = catch_command_errors (func, execarg, !batch_flag);
+      if (ret != 0 && core_bfd == NULL)
 	ret = catch_command_errors (symbol_file_add_main_adapter,
 				    symarg, !batch_flag);
     }