diff --git a/command/keys.go b/command/keys.go
index 069af85661..0373804cf7 100644
--- a/command/keys.go
+++ b/command/keys.go
@@ -33,13 +33,6 @@ func (c *KeysCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		return 1
 	}
 
-	client, err := RPCClient(*rpcAddr)
-	if err != nil {
-		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error connecting to Consul agent: %s", err))
-		return 1
-	}
-	defer client.Close()
-
 	// Only accept a single argument
 	found := listKeys
 	for _, arg := range []string{installKey, useKey, removeKey} {
@@ -50,6 +43,19 @@ func (c *KeysCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		found = found || len(arg) > 0
 	}
 
+	// Fail fast if no actionable args were passed
+	if !found {
+		c.Ui.Error(c.Help())
+		return 1
+	}
+
+	client, err := RPCClient(*rpcAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		c.Ui.Error(fmt.Sprintf("Error connecting to Consul agent: %s", err))
+		return 1
+	}
+	defer client.Close()
+
 	if listKeys {
 		var keys map[string]int
 		var numNodes int
@@ -96,8 +102,8 @@ func (c *KeysCommand) Run(args []string) int {
 		return 0
 	}
 
-	c.Ui.Output(c.Help())
-	return 1
+	// Should never make it here
+	return 0
 }
 
 func (c *KeysCommand) Help() string {