diff --git a/generator/main.cpp b/generator/main.cpp
index e17289d..fd5c9bc 100644
--- a/generator/main.cpp
+++ b/generator/main.cpp
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     OperationArgument generateArg("generate", 'g', "runs the code generator");
     generateArg.setImplicit(true);
     ConfigValueArgument inputFileArg("input-file", 'i', "specifies the input file", { "path" });
+    inputFileArg.setRequired(true);
     ConfigValueArgument outputFileArg("output-file", 'o', "specifies the output file", { "path" });
     Argument generatorsArg("generators", 'g', "specifies the generators (by default all generators are enabled)");
     generatorsArg.setValueNames({ "json" });
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 
     // parse arguments
     parser.parseArgsOrExit(argc, argv);
-    if (helpArg.isPresent()) {
+    if (helpArg.isPresent() || !generateArg.isPresent()) {
         return 0;
     }