diff --git a/src/powerprofilesctl b/src/powerprofilesctl
index 83c151d..e50bab0 100755
--- a/src/powerprofilesctl
+++ b/src/powerprofilesctl
@@ -205,12 +205,19 @@ def get_parser():
 
 
 def main():
-    args, unknown = get_parser().parse_known_args()
+    parser = get_parser()
+    args, unknown = parser.parse_known_args()
     # default behavior is to run list if no command is given
     if not args.command:
         args.func = _list
     if args.command == "launch":
         args.arguments += unknown
+        unknown = []
+
+    if unknown:
+        msg = argparse._("unrecognized arguments: %s")
+        parser.error(msg % " ".join(unknown))
+
     args.func(args)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/integration_test.py b/tests/integration_test.py
index f4a9330..aa7d892 100644
--- a/tests/integration_test.py
+++ b/tests/integration_test.py
@@ -1727,6 +1727,28 @@ class Tests(dbusmock.DBusTestCase):
             )
             self.assertEqual(tmpf.readlines(), ["--foo --bar -v arg\n"])
 
+    def test_unknown_action(self):
+        self.create_platform_profile()
+        self.start_daemon()
+        self.assert_eventually(lambda: self.get_dbus_property("ActiveProfile"))
+
+        with self.assertRaises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
+            tool_cmd = self.powerprofilesctl_command()
+            subprocess.check_output(
+                tool_cmd + ["hopefully-invalid-action"], stderr=subprocess.PIPE
+            )
+
+    def test_unknown_list_argument(self):
+        self.create_platform_profile()
+        self.start_daemon()
+        self.assert_eventually(lambda: self.get_dbus_property("ActiveProfile"))
+
+        with self.assertRaises(subprocess.CalledProcessError):
+            subprocess.check_output(
+                self.powerprofilesctl_command() + ["list", "--invalid-argument"],
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+            )
+
     def test_vanishing_hold(self):
         self.create_platform_profile()
         self.start_daemon()