diff --git a/Core.lua b/Core.lua
index de3172b..55e9c0e 100644
--- a/Core.lua
+++ b/Core.lua
@@ -2290,6 +2290,9 @@ function CleveRoids.DoTarget(msg)
     -- Save original target GUID for potential restoration (SuperWoW returns GUID as 2nd value)
     local _, originalTargetGuid = UnitExists("target")
 
+    -- Track if an explicit target was specified via @unit syntax
+    local explicitTarget = conditionals.target
+
     do
         local unitTok = conditionals.target
 
@@ -2316,6 +2319,13 @@ function CleveRoids.DoTarget(msg)
             TargetUnit(unitTok)
             return true
         end
+
+        -- If an explicit target was specified via @unit syntax but doesn't exist or isn't valid,
+        -- return false instead of falling through to candidate search.
+        -- This ensures "/target [@mouseover,harm,alive]" does nothing when mouse is over empty ground.
+        if explicitTarget then
+            return false
+        end
     end
 
     if UnitExists("target") and IsGuidValid("target", conditionals) then