diff --git a/cmds-filesystem.c b/cmds-filesystem.c
index 88867a3d03..9392a30bd0 100644
--- a/cmds-filesystem.c
+++ b/cmds-filesystem.c
@@ -898,9 +898,10 @@ static int cmd_filesystem_show(int argc, char **argv)
 	list_for_each_entry(fs_devices, &all_uuids, list)
 		print_one_uuid(fs_devices, unit_mode);
 
-	if (search && !found)
+	if (search && !found) {
+		error("not a valid btrfs filesystem: %s", search);
 		ret = 1;
-
+	}
 	while (!list_empty(&all_uuids)) {
 		fs_devices = list_entry(all_uuids.next,
 					struct btrfs_fs_devices, list);