diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/modcmd/download.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/modcmd/download.go
index 1687cc57944..6ea18ea8729 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/modcmd/download.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/modcmd/download.go
@@ -81,6 +81,17 @@ func runDownload(cmd *base.Command, args []string) {
 	}
 	if len(args) == 0 {
 		args = []string{"all"}
+	} else if modload.HasModRoot() {
+		modload.InitMod() // to fill Target
+		targetAtLatest := modload.Target.Path + "@latest"
+		targetAtUpgrade := modload.Target.Path + "@upgrade"
+		targetAtPatch := modload.Target.Path + "@patch"
+		for _, arg := range args {
+			switch arg {
+			case modload.Target.Path, targetAtLatest, targetAtUpgrade, targetAtPatch:
+				os.Stderr.WriteString("go mod download: skipping argument "+ arg + " that resolves to the main module\n")
+			}
+		}
 	}
 
 	var mods []*moduleJSON
@@ -91,8 +102,9 @@ func runDownload(cmd *base.Command, args []string) {
 		if info.Replace != nil {
 			info = info.Replace
 		}
-		if info.Version == "" && info.Error == nil {
-			// main module
+		if (module.Version{Path: info.Path, Version: info.Version} == modload.Target) {
+			// skipping main module.
+			// go mod download without dependencies is silent.
 			continue
 		}
 		m := &moduleJSON{
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/mod_download.txt b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/mod_download.txt
index 07779137869..e341222d60b 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/mod_download.txt
+++ b/src/cmd/go/testdata/script/mod_download.txt
@@ -93,6 +93,12 @@ stderr '^rsc.io/quote@v1.999.999: reading .*/v1.999.999.info: 404 Not Found$'
 ! go mod download -json bad/path
 stdout '^\t"Error": "module bad/path: not a known dependency"'
 
+# download main module returns an error
+go mod download m
+stderr '^go mod download: skipping argument m that resolves to the main module\n'
+go mod download m@latest
+stderr '^go mod download: skipping argument m@latest that resolves to the main module\n'
+
 # allow go mod download without go.mod
 env GO111MODULE=auto
 rm go.mod