diff --git a/apps/cms.c b/apps/cms.c
index b2037b4df2bf4..2863a92eee863 100644
--- a/apps/cms.c
+++ b/apps/cms.c
@@ -640,6 +640,7 @@ int cms_main(int argc, char **argv)
             goto opthelp;
         }
     } else if (!operation) {
+        BIO_printf(bio_err, "No operation option (-encrypt|-decrypt|-sign|-verify|...) specified.\n");
         goto opthelp;
     }