diff --git a/cmd/bbolt/main.go b/cmd/bbolt/main.go
index 121fd4da9..acf985624 100644
--- a/cmd/bbolt/main.go
+++ b/cmd/bbolt/main.go
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ var (
 
 	// ErrKeyNotFound is returned when a key is not found.
 	ErrKeyNotFound = errors.New("key not found")
+
+	// ErrNotEnoughArgs is returned with a cmd is being executed with fewer arguments.
+	ErrNotEnoughArgs = errors.New("not enough arguments")
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -1000,6 +1003,9 @@ func (cmd *getCommand) Run(args ...string) error {
 
 	// Require database path, bucket and key.
 	relevantArgs := fs.Args()
+	if len(relevantArgs) < 3 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("expected arguments are 'database path', 'bucket', and 'key': %w", ErrNotEnoughArgs)
+	}
 	path, buckets := relevantArgs[0], relevantArgs[1:len(relevantArgs)-1]
 	key, err := parseBytes(relevantArgs[len(relevantArgs)-1], parseFormat)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/bbolt/main_test.go b/cmd/bbolt/main_test.go
index e137db3e9..4461e30b5 100644
--- a/cmd/bbolt/main_test.go
+++ b/cmd/bbolt/main_test.go
@@ -649,6 +649,23 @@ func TestCompactCommand_Run(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestCommands_Run_NoArgs(t *testing.T) {
+	testCases := []struct {
+		cmd    string
+		expErr error
+	}{
+		{
+			cmd:    "get",
+			expErr: main.ErrNotEnoughArgs,
+		},
+	}
+	m := NewMain()
+	for _, tc := range testCases {
+		err := m.Run(tc.cmd)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, main.ErrNotEnoughArgs)
+	}
+}
+
 func fillBucket(b *bolt.Bucket, prefix []byte) error {
 	n := 10 + rand.Intn(50)
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {