diff --git a/docs/developer-guide/nodejs-api.md b/docs/developer-guide/nodejs-api.md
index f48670896be..0f006d7814b 100644
--- a/docs/developer-guide/nodejs-api.md
+++ b/docs/developer-guide/nodejs-api.md
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ var messages = linter.verifyAndFix("var foo", {
     rules: {
         semi: 2
     }
-}, { filename: "foo.js" });
+});
 ```
 
 Output object from this method:
diff --git a/lib/linter.js b/lib/linter.js
index d2f1f46574c..b8b3a56762e 100755
--- a/lib/linter.js
+++ b/lib/linter.js
@@ -1205,6 +1205,7 @@ class Linter extends EventEmitter {
             fixedResult,
             fixed = false,
             passNumber = 0;
+        const debugTextDescription = options && options.filename || `${text.slice(0, 10)}...`;
 
         /**
          * This loop continues until one of the following is true:
@@ -1218,10 +1219,10 @@ class Linter extends EventEmitter {
         do {
             passNumber++;
 
-            debug(`Linting code for ${options.filename} (pass ${passNumber})`);
+            debug(`Linting code for ${debugTextDescription} (pass ${passNumber})`);
             messages = this.verify(text, config, options);
 
-            debug(`Generating fixed text for ${options.filename} (pass ${passNumber})`);
+            debug(`Generating fixed text for ${debugTextDescription} (pass ${passNumber})`);
             fixedResult = SourceCodeFixer.applyFixes(this.getSourceCode(), messages);
 
             // stop if there are any syntax errors.
diff --git a/tests/lib/linter.js b/tests/lib/linter.js
index 4acc46b3f02..88ce63cb12e 100644
--- a/tests/lib/linter.js
+++ b/tests/lib/linter.js
@@ -3776,6 +3776,20 @@ describe("eslint", () => {
             assert.equal(messages.output, "var a;", "Fixes were applied correctly");
             assert.isTrue(messages.fixed);
         });
+
+        it("does not require a third argument", () => {
+            const fixResult = linter.verifyAndFix("var a", {
+                rules: {
+                    semi: 2
+                }
+            });
+
+            assert.deepEqual(fixResult, {
+                fixed: true,
+                messages: [],
+                output: "var a;"
+            });
+        });
     });
 
     describe("Edge cases", () => {