diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 9594454..83967f7 100755
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 from error import DownloadError
 from error import ManifestInvalidRevisionError
 from error import ManifestParseError
+from error import NoManifestException
 from error import NoSuchProjectError
 from error import RepoChangedException
 from manifest_xml import XmlManifest
@@ -140,6 +141,10 @@
     except ManifestInvalidRevisionError as e:
       print('error: %s' % str(e), file=sys.stderr)
       result = 1
+    except NoManifestException as e:
+      print('error: manifest required for this command -- please run init',
+            file=sys.stderr)
+      result = 1
     except NoSuchProjectError as e:
       if e.name:
         print('error: project %s not found' % e.name, file=sys.stderr)