diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check.py
index f9a1bd072..90ff28704 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from clan_cli.completions import add_dynamic_completer, complete_machines
 from clan_lib.errors import ClanError
-from clan_lib.flake import Flake
+from clan_lib.flake import Flake, require_flake
 from clan_lib.machines.machines import Machine
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ def check_vars(
 
 
 def check_command(args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
-    ok = check_vars(args.machine, args.flake, generator_name=args.generator)
+    flake = require_flake(args.flake)
+    ok = check_vars(args.machine, flake, generator_name=args.generator)
     if not ok:
         raise SystemExit(1)
 
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check_test.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..66b200b15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/clan_cli/vars/check_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+from clan_cli.tests.helpers import cli
+from clan_lib.errors import ClanError
+
+
+def test_check_command_no_flake(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.chdir(tmp_path)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ClanError):
+        cli.run(["vars", "check", "machine1"])