diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_block.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_block.py
index 855370c2..76bfe1e9 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_block.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_block.py
@@ -228,8 +228,13 @@ def get_parser():
 
 def main(args=None):
     '''Main routine of :program:`qvm-block`.'''
-    args = get_parser().parse_args(args)
-    args.func(args)
+    parser = get_parser()
+    try:
+        args = parser.parse_args(args)
+        args.func(args)
+    except qubes.exc.QubesException as e:
+        parser.print_error(e.message)
+        return 1
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/qubes/tools/qvm_pool.py b/qubes/tools/qvm_pool.py
index 0444d56d..ca289f6d 100644
--- a/qubes/tools/qvm_pool.py
+++ b/qubes/tools/qvm_pool.py
@@ -187,7 +187,12 @@ def main(args=None):
         command line.
     '''
     parser = get_parser()
-    args = parser.parse_args(args)
+    try:
+        args = parser.parse_args(args)
+    except qubes.exc.QubesException as e:
+        parser.print_error(e.message)
+        return 1
+
     if args.command is None or args.command == 'list':
         list_pools(args.app)
     elif args.command == 'add':