diff --git a/fleetctl/destroy.go b/fleetctl/destroy.go
index 0e6f1685a..46e16cb61 100644
--- a/fleetctl/destroy.go
+++ b/fleetctl/destroy.go
@@ -51,6 +51,11 @@ func runDestroyUnit(cCmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (exit int) {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	if len(units) == 0 {
+		stderr("Units not found in registry")
+		return 0
+	}
+
 	for _, v := range units {
 		err := cAPI.DestroyUnit(v.Name)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/fleetctl/stop.go b/fleetctl/stop.go
index 2b03c51b6..7e770f5be 100644
--- a/fleetctl/stop.go
+++ b/fleetctl/stop.go
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ func runStopUnit(cCmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (exit int) {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	if len(units) == 0 {
+		stderr("Units not found in registry")
+		return 0
+	}
+
 	stopping := make([]string, 0)
 	for _, u := range units {
 		if !suToGlobal(u) {
diff --git a/fleetctl/unload.go b/fleetctl/unload.go
index 238b89993..c7343f815 100644
--- a/fleetctl/unload.go
+++ b/fleetctl/unload.go
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ func runUnloadUnit(cCmd *cobra.Command, args []string) (exit int) {
 		return 1
 	}
 
+	if len(units) == 0 {
+		stderr("Units not found in registry")
+		return 0
+	}
+
 	wait := make([]string, 0)
 	for _, s := range units {
 		if !suToGlobal(s) {