diff --git a/internal/cmd/backup.go b/internal/cmd/backup.go
index e66414a4..57fa83c8 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/backup.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/backup.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ var (
 	backupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "backup <filename>",
 		Short: "Create, restore, and inspect permissions system backups",
-		Args:  cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 		// Create used to be on the root, so add it here for back-compat.
 		RunE: withErrorHandling(backupCreateCmdFunc),
 	}
@@ -61,21 +61,21 @@ var (
 	backupCreateCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "create <filename>",
 		Short: "Backup a permission system to a file",
-		Args:  cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 		RunE:  withErrorHandling(backupCreateCmdFunc),
 	}
 
 	backupRestoreCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "restore <filename>",
 		Short: "Restore a permission system from a file",
-		Args:  commands.StdinOrExactArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(commands.StdinOrExactArgs(1)),
 		RunE:  backupRestoreCmdFunc,
 	}
 
 	backupParseSchemaCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "parse-schema <filename>",
 		Short: "Extract the schema from a backup file",
-		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return backupParseSchemaCmdFunc(cmd, os.Stdout, args)
 		},
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ var (
 	backupParseRevisionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "parse-revision <filename>",
 		Short: "Extract the revision from a backup file",
-		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return backupParseRevisionCmdFunc(cmd, os.Stdout, args)
 		},
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ var (
 	backupParseRelsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "parse-relationships <filename>",
 		Short: "Extract the relationships from a backup file",
-		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return backupParseRelsCmdFunc(cmd, os.Stdout, args)
 		},
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ var (
 	backupRedactCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "redact <filename>",
 		Short: "Redact a backup file to remove sensitive information",
-		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+		Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			return backupRedactCmdFunc(cmd, args)
 		},
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func registerBackupCmd(rootCmd *cobra.Command) {
 	restoreCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:    "restore <filename>",
 		Short:  "Restore a permission system from a backup file",
-		Args:   cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+		Args:   commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 		RunE:   backupRestoreCmdFunc,
 		Hidden: true,
 	}
diff --git a/internal/cmd/cmd.go b/internal/cmd/cmd.go
index 99df3045..db15c1dd 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
+	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 
 	"github.com/jzelinskie/cobrautil/v2"
@@ -42,7 +43,15 @@ func init() {
 	log.Logger = l
 }
 
-// This function is utilised to generate docs for zed
+var flagError = flagErrorFunc
+
+func flagErrorFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, err error) error {
+	cmd.Println(err)
+	cmd.Println(cmd.UsageString())
+	return errParsing
+}
+
+// InitialiseRootCmd This function is utilised to generate docs for zed
 func InitialiseRootCmd(zl *cobrazerolog.Builder) *cobra.Command {
 	rootCmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "zed",
@@ -54,12 +63,10 @@ func InitialiseRootCmd(zl *cobrazerolog.Builder) *cobra.Command {
 			commands.InjectRequestID,
 		),
 		SilenceErrors: true,
-		SilenceUsage:  false,
+		SilenceUsage:  true,
 	}
-	rootCmd.SetFlagErrorFunc(func(cmd *cobra.Command, err error) error {
-		cmd.Println(err)
-		cmd.Println(cmd.UsageString())
-		return errParsing
+	rootCmd.SetFlagErrorFunc(func(command *cobra.Command, err error) error {
+		return flagError(command, err)
 	})
 
 	zl.RegisterFlags(rootCmd.PersistentFlags())
@@ -92,7 +99,7 @@ func InitialiseRootCmd(zl *cobrazerolog.Builder) *cobra.Command {
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(&cobra.Command{
 		Use:               "use <context>",
 		Short:             "Alias for `zed context use`",
-		Args:              cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+		Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 		RunE:              contextUseCmdFunc,
 		ValidArgsFunction: ContextGet,
 	})
@@ -119,6 +126,12 @@ func InitialiseRootCmd(zl *cobrazerolog.Builder) *cobra.Command {
 }
 
 func Run() {
+	if err := runWithoutExit(); err != nil {
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+}
+
+func runWithoutExit() error {
 	zl := cobrazerolog.New(cobrazerolog.WithPreRunLevel(zerolog.DebugLevel))
 
 	rootCmd := InitialiseRootCmd(zl)
@@ -141,11 +154,34 @@ func Run() {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	if err := rootCmd.ExecuteContext(ctx); err != nil {
-		if !errors.Is(err, errParsing) {
-			log.Err(err).Msg("terminated with errors")
-		}
+	return handleError(rootCmd, rootCmd.ExecuteContext(ctx))
+}
 
-		os.Exit(1)
+func handleError(command *cobra.Command, err error) error {
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// this snippet of code is taken from Command.ExecuteC in order to determine the command that was ultimately
+	// parsed. This is necessary to be able to print the proper command-specific usage
+	var findErr error
+	var cmdToExecute *cobra.Command
+	args := os.Args[1:]
+	if command.TraverseChildren {
+		cmdToExecute, _, findErr = command.Traverse(args)
+	} else {
+		cmdToExecute, _, findErr = command.Find(args)
 	}
+	if findErr != nil {
+		cmdToExecute = command
+	}
+
+	if errors.Is(err, commands.ValidationError{}) {
+		_ = flagError(cmdToExecute, err)
+	} else if err != nil && strings.Contains(err.Error(), "unknown command") {
+		_ = flagError(cmdToExecute, err)
+	} else if !errors.Is(err, errParsing) {
+		log.Err(err).Msg("terminated with errors")
+	}
+
+	return err
 }
diff --git a/internal/cmd/cmd_test.go b/internal/cmd/cmd_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d86a4d09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/cmd/cmd_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	"github.com/jzelinskie/cobrautil/v2/cobrazerolog"
+	"github.com/rs/zerolog"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+// note: these tests mess with global variables, so do not run in parallel with other tests.
+func TestCommandOutput(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		name                  string
+		flagErrorContains     string
+		expectUsageContains   string
+		expectFlagErrorCalled bool
+		expectStdErrorMsg     string
+		command               []string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:                  "prints usage on invalid command error",
+			command:               []string{"zed", "madeupcommand"},
+			expectFlagErrorCalled: true,
+			flagErrorContains:     "unknown command",
+			expectUsageContains:   "zed [command]",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                  "prints usage on invalid flag error",
+			command:               []string{"zed", "version", "--madeupflag"},
+			expectFlagErrorCalled: true,
+			flagErrorContains:     "unknown flag: --madeupflag",
+			expectUsageContains:   "zed version [flags]",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                  "prints usage on parameter validation error",
+			command:               []string{"zed", "validate"},
+			expectFlagErrorCalled: true,
+			flagErrorContains:     "requires at least 1 arg(s), only received 0",
+			expectUsageContains:   "zed validate <validation_file_or_schema_file> [flags]",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                  "prints correct usage",
+			command:               []string{"zed", "perm", "check"},
+			expectFlagErrorCalled: true,
+			flagErrorContains:     "accepts 3 arg(s), received 0",
+			expectUsageContains:   "zed permission check <resource:id> <permission> <subject:id>",
+		},
+		{
+			name:                  "does not print usage on command error",
+			command:               []string{"zed", "validate", uuid.NewString()},
+			expectFlagErrorCalled: false,
+			expectStdErrorMsg:     "terminated with errors",
+		},
+	}
+
+	zl := cobrazerolog.New(cobrazerolog.WithPreRunLevel(zerolog.DebugLevel))
+
+	rootCmd := InitialiseRootCmd(zl)
+	for _, tt := range cases {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			var flagErrorCalled bool
+			testFlagError := func(cmd *cobra.Command, err error) error {
+				require.ErrorContains(t, err, tt.flagErrorContains)
+				require.Contains(t, cmd.UsageString(), tt.expectUsageContains)
+				flagErrorCalled = true
+				return errParsing
+			}
+			stderrFile := setupOutputForTest(t, testFlagError, tt.command...)
+
+			err := handleError(rootCmd, rootCmd.ExecuteContext(t.Context()))
+			require.Error(t, err)
+			stdErrBytes, err := os.ReadFile(stderrFile)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			if tt.expectStdErrorMsg != "" {
+				require.Contains(t, string(stdErrBytes), tt.expectStdErrorMsg)
+			} else {
+				require.Len(t, stdErrBytes, 0)
+			}
+			require.Equal(t, tt.expectFlagErrorCalled, flagErrorCalled)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func setupOutputForTest(t *testing.T, testFlagError func(cmd *cobra.Command, err error) error, args ...string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	originalLevel := zerolog.GlobalLevel()
+	originalFlagError := flagError
+	originalArgs := os.Args
+	originalStderr := os.Stderr
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(originalLevel)
+		flagError = originalFlagError
+		os.Args = originalArgs
+		os.Stderr = originalStderr
+	})
+
+	if len(args) > 0 {
+		os.Args = args
+	}
+	flagError = testFlagError
+	zerolog.SetGlobalLevel(zerolog.TraceLevel)
+	tempStdErrFileName := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), uuid.NewString())
+	tempStdErr, err := os.Create(tempStdErrFileName)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	os.Stderr = tempStdErr
+	return tempStdErrFileName
+}
diff --git a/internal/cmd/context.go b/internal/cmd/context.go
index 1f34e43d..d5a0eec4 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/context.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/context.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/client"
+	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/commands"
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/console"
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/printers"
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/storage"
@@ -35,7 +36,7 @@ var contextListCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "list",
 	Short:             "Lists all available contexts",
 	Aliases:           []string{"ls"},
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(0),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(0)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: cobra.NoFileCompletions,
 	RunE:              contextListCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ var contextListCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var contextSetCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "set <name> <endpoint> <api-token>",
 	Short:             "Creates or overwrite a context",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: cobra.NoFileCompletions,
 	RunE:              contextSetCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ var contextRemoveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "remove <system>",
 	Short:             "Removes a context",
 	Aliases:           []string{"rm"},
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: ContextGet,
 	RunE:              contextRemoveCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ var contextRemoveCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var contextUseCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "use <system>",
 	Short:             "Sets a context as the current context",
-	Args:              cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: ContextGet,
 	RunE:              contextUseCmdFunc,
 }
diff --git a/internal/cmd/import.go b/internal/cmd/import.go
index 3cb11f67..687d42ef 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/import.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/import.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/authzed/spicedb/pkg/validationfile"
 
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/client"
+	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/commands"
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/decode"
 	"github.com/authzed/zed/internal/grpcutil"
 )
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ var importCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	With schema definition prefix:
 		zed import --schema-definition-prefix=mypermsystem file:///Users/zed/Downloads/authzed-x7izWU8_2Gw3.yaml
 `,
-	Args: cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	Args: commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 	RunE: importCmdFunc,
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/cmd/preview.go b/internal/cmd/preview.go
index 90761734..279e310d 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/preview.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/preview.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ var schemaCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 var schemaCompileCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "compile <file>",
-	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(1)),
 	Short: "Compile a schema that uses extended syntax into one that can be written to SpiceDB",
 	Example: `
 	Write to stdout:
diff --git a/internal/cmd/schema.go b/internal/cmd/schema.go
index 235e9c23..bbe52f39 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/schema.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/schema.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func registerAdditionalSchemaCmds(schemaCmd *cobra.Command) {
 
 var schemaWriteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "write <file?>",
-	Args:              cobra.MaximumNArgs(1),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MaximumNArgs(1)),
 	Short:             "Write a schema file (.zed or stdin) to the current permissions system",
 	ValidArgsFunction: commands.FileExtensionCompletions("zed"),
 	RunE:              schemaWriteCmdFunc,
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ var schemaWriteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var schemaCopyCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "copy <src context> <dest context>",
 	Short:             "Copy a schema from one context into another",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(2)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: ContextGet,
 	RunE:              schemaCopyCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ var schemaCopyCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var schemaDiffCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "diff <before file> <after file>",
 	Short: "Diff two schema files",
-	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Args:  commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(2)),
 	RunE:  schemaDiffCmdFunc,
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/cmd/validate.go b/internal/cmd/validate.go
index 2a61e8e2..8c4aa265 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/validate.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/validate.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ var validateCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 	From a devtools instance:
 		zed validate https://localhost:8443/download`,
-	Args:              cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+	Args:              commands.ValidationWrapper(cobra.MinimumNArgs(1)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: commands.FileExtensionCompletions("zed", "yaml", "zaml"),
 	PreRunE:           validatePreRunE,
 	RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, filenames []string) error {
diff --git a/internal/commands/permission.go b/internal/commands/permission.go
index 5ea68a4e..58b022c1 100644
--- a/internal/commands/permission.go
+++ b/internal/commands/permission.go
@@ -129,14 +129,14 @@ var permissionCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var checkBulkCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "bulk <resource:id#permission@subject:id> <resource:id#permission@subject:id> ...",
 	Short: "Check a permissions in bulk exists for a resource-subject pairs",
-	Args:  cobra.MinimumNArgs(1),
+	Args:  ValidationWrapper(cobra.MinimumNArgs(1)),
 	RunE:  checkBulkCmdFunc,
 }
 
 var checkCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "check <resource:id> <permission> <subject:id>",
 	Short:             "Check that a permission exists for a subject",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectID),
 	RunE:              checkCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ var checkCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var expandCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "expand <permission> <resource:id>",
 	Short:             "Expand the structure of a permission",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(2)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: cobra.NoFileCompletions,
 	RunE:              expandCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ var expandCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var lookupResourcesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "lookup-resources <type> <permission> <subject:id>",
 	Short:             "Enumerates resources of a given type for which the subject has permission",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceType, Permission, SubjectID),
 	RunE:              lookupResourcesCmdFunc,
 }
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ var lookupResourcesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var lookupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "lookup <type> <permission> <subject:id>",
 	Short:             "Enumerates the resources of a given type for which the subject has permission",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceType, Permission, SubjectID),
 	RunE:              lookupResourcesCmdFunc,
 	Deprecated:        "prefer lookup-resources",
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ var lookupCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var lookupSubjectsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "lookup-subjects <resource:id> <permission> <subject_type#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Enumerates the subjects of a given type for which the subject has permission on the resource",
-	Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              lookupSubjectsCmdFunc,
 }
diff --git a/internal/commands/relationship.go b/internal/commands/relationship.go
index 730c617e..0471f856 100644
--- a/internal/commands/relationship.go
+++ b/internal/commands/relationship.go
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ var relationshipCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var createCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "create <resource:id> <relation> <subject:id#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Create a relationship for a subject",
-	Args:              StdinOrExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(StdinOrExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              writeRelationshipCmdFunc(v1.RelationshipUpdate_OPERATION_CREATE, os.Stdin),
 }
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ var createCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var touchCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "touch <resource:id> <relation> <subject:id#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Idempotently updates a relationship for a subject",
-	Args:              StdinOrExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(StdinOrExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              writeRelationshipCmdFunc(v1.RelationshipUpdate_OPERATION_TOUCH, os.Stdin),
 }
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ var touchCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var deleteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "delete <resource:id> <relation> <subject:id#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Deletes a relationship",
-	Args:              StdinOrExactArgs(3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(StdinOrExactArgs(3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              writeRelationshipCmdFunc(v1.RelationshipUpdate_OPERATION_DELETE, os.Stdin),
 }
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ var readCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "read <resource_type:optional_resource_id> <optional_relation> <optional_subject_type:optional_subject_id#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Enumerates relationships matching the provided pattern",
 	Long:              readCmdHelpLong,
-	Args:              cobra.RangeArgs(1, 3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.RangeArgs(1, 3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              readRelationships,
 }
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ var readCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var bulkDeleteCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:               "bulk-delete <resource_type:optional_resource_id> <optional_relation> <optional_subject_type:optional_subject_id#optional_subject_relation>",
 	Short:             "Deletes relationships matching the provided pattern en masse",
-	Args:              cobra.RangeArgs(1, 3),
+	Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.RangeArgs(1, 3)),
 	ValidArgsFunction: GetArgs(ResourceID, Permission, SubjectTypeWithOptionalRelation),
 	RunE:              bulkDeleteRelationships,
 }
diff --git a/internal/commands/schema.go b/internal/commands/schema.go
index 84d226e7..b56f152e 100644
--- a/internal/commands/schema.go
+++ b/internal/commands/schema.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ var (
 	schemaReadCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		Use:               "read",
 		Short:             "Read the schema of a permissions system",
-		Args:              cobra.ExactArgs(0),
+		Args:              ValidationWrapper(cobra.ExactArgs(0)),
 		ValidArgsFunction: cobra.NoFileCompletions,
 		RunE:              schemaReadCmdFunc,
 	}
diff --git a/internal/commands/util.go b/internal/commands/util.go
index a220f40c..6d5b4da0 100644
--- a/internal/commands/util.go
+++ b/internal/commands/util.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package commands
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -96,3 +97,27 @@ func InjectRequestID(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// ValidationError is used to wrap errors that are cobra validation errors. It should be used to
+// wrap the Command.PositionalArgs function in order to be able to determine if the error is a validation error.
+// This is used to determine if an error should print the usage string. Unfortunately Cobra parameter parsing
+// and parameter validation are handled differently, and the latter does not trigger calling Command.FlagErrorFunc
+type ValidationError struct {
+	error
+}
+
+func (ve ValidationError) Is(err error) bool {
+	var validationError ValidationError
+	return errors.As(err, &validationError)
+}
+
+// ValidationWrapper is used to be able to determine if an error is a validation error.
+func ValidationWrapper(f cobra.PositionalArgs) cobra.PositionalArgs {
+	return func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+		if err := f(cmd, args); err != nil {
+			return ValidationError{error: err}
+		}
+
+		return nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/commands/util_test.go b/internal/commands/util_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..aa728c82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/commands/util_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package commands
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestValidationWrapper(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name           string
+		positionalArgs cobra.PositionalArgs
+		args           []string
+		wantErr        bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:           "valid args",
+			positionalArgs: cobra.MaximumNArgs(2),
+			args:           []string{"arg1", "arg2"},
+			wantErr:        false,
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "invalid args",
+			positionalArgs: cobra.MaximumNArgs(2),
+			args:           []string{"arg1", "arg2", "arg3"},
+			wantErr:        true,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			err := ValidationWrapper(tt.positionalArgs)(nil, tt.args)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				var validationError ValidationError
+				require.ErrorAs(t, err, &validationError)
+				require.NotNil(t, validationError.error)
+				require.ErrorContains(t, validationError.error, "accepts at most")
+			} else {
+				require.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/commands/watch.go b/internal/commands/watch.go
index bc955063..96b34516 100644
--- a/internal/commands/watch.go
+++ b/internal/commands/watch.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func RegisterWatchRelationshipCmd(parentCmd *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
 var watchCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:        "watch [object_types, ...] [start_cursor]",
 	Short:      "Watches the stream of relationship updates from the server",
-	Args:       cobra.RangeArgs(0, 2),
+	Args:       ValidationWrapper(cobra.RangeArgs(0, 2)),
 	RunE:       watchCmdFunc,
 	Deprecated: "deprecated; please use `zed watch relationships` instead",
 }
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ var watchCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var watchRelationshipsCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "watch [object_types, ...] [start_cursor]",
 	Short: "Watches the stream of relationship updates from the server",
-	Args:  cobra.RangeArgs(0, 2),
+	Args:  ValidationWrapper(cobra.RangeArgs(0, 2)),
 	RunE:  watchCmdFunc,
 }