diff --git a/lib/castle/commands/identify.rb b/lib/castle/commands/identify.rb
index 1ac33572..61794e6b 100644
--- a/lib/castle/commands/identify.rb
+++ b/lib/castle/commands/identify.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ def validate!(options)
           raise Castle::InvalidParametersError, "#{key} is missing or empty"
         end
 
-        # check for properties
+        if options[:properties]
+          raise Castle::InvalidParametersError,
+                'properties are not supported in identify calls'
+        end
       end
     end
   end