diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/create.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/create.py
index e354346d..cb770c8e 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/create.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/create.py
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ def create_backup(machine: Machine, provider: str | None = None) -> None:
 
 
 def create_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+    if args.flake is None:
+        raise ClanError("Could not find clan flake toplevel directory")
     machine = Machine(name=args.machine, flake=args.flake)
     create_backup(machine=machine, provider=args.provider)
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/list.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/list.py
index e180481a..7ae15c27 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/list.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/list.py
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ def list_backups(machine: Machine, provider: str | None = None) -> list[Backup]:
 
 
 def list_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+    if args.flake is None:
+        raise ClanError("Could not find clan flake toplevel directory")
     machine = Machine(name=args.machine, flake=args.flake)
     backups = list_backups(machine=machine, provider=args.provider)
     for backup in backups:
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/restore.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/restore.py
index 5125a8cf..5981e072 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/restore.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/backups/restore.py
@@ -62,6 +62,8 @@ def restore_backup(
 
 
 def restore_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
+    if args.flake is None:
+        raise ClanError("Could not find clan flake toplevel directory")
     machine = Machine(name=args.machine, flake=args.flake)
     restore_backup(
         machine=machine,