diff --git a/cli/internal/validate.go b/cli/internal/validate.go
index 933e7add..2ea6cd47 100644
--- a/cli/internal/validate.go
+++ b/cli/internal/validate.go
@@ -17,34 +17,34 @@ func ValidateRecipe(args []string, cmdName string) recipe.Recipe {
 		recipeName = args[0]
 	}
 
-	if recipeName == "" && !NoInput {
-		var recipes []string
+	var recipes []string
 
-		catl, err := recipe.ReadRecipeCatalogue(Offline)
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Fatal(err)
-		}
+	catl, err := recipe.ReadRecipeCatalogue(Offline)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatal(err)
+	}
 
-		knownRecipes := make(map[string]bool)
-		for name := range catl {
-			knownRecipes[name] = true
-		}
+	knownRecipes := make(map[string]bool)
+	for name := range catl {
+		knownRecipes[name] = true
+	}
 
-		localRecipes, err := recipe.GetRecipesLocal()
-		if err != nil {
-			log.Debugf("can't read local recipes: %s", err)
-		} else {
-			for _, recipeLocal := range localRecipes {
-				if _, ok := knownRecipes[recipeLocal]; !ok {
-					knownRecipes[recipeLocal] = true
-				}
+	localRecipes, err := recipe.GetRecipesLocal()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Debugf("can't read local recipes: %s", err)
+	} else {
+		for _, recipeLocal := range localRecipes {
+			if _, ok := knownRecipes[recipeLocal]; !ok {
+				knownRecipes[recipeLocal] = true
 			}
 		}
+	}
 
-		for recipeName := range knownRecipes {
-			recipes = append(recipes, recipeName)
-		}
+	for recipeName := range knownRecipes {
+		recipes = append(recipes, recipeName)
+	}
 
+	if recipeName == "" && !NoInput {
 		prompt := &survey.Select{
 			Message: "Select recipe",
 			Options: recipes,
@@ -58,11 +58,15 @@ func ValidateRecipe(args []string, cmdName string) recipe.Recipe {
 		log.Fatal("no recipe name provided")
 	}
 
+	if _, ok := knownRecipes[recipeName]; !ok {
+		log.Fatalf("no recipe '%s' exists?", recipeName)
+	}
+
 	chosenRecipe := recipe.Get(recipeName)
-	err := chosenRecipe.EnsureExists()
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := chosenRecipe.EnsureExists(); err != nil {
 		log.Fatal(err)
 	}
+
 	_, err = chosenRecipe.GetComposeConfig(nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		if cmdName == "generate" {