diff --git a/packages/device.py b/packages/device.py
index b1e2ebf..a8dd4e0 100644
--- a/packages/device.py
+++ b/packages/device.py
@@ -158,7 +158,9 @@ def get_profile_device(profile_name: Optional[str] = None, hint_or_set_arch: boo
 
 @click.command(name='list')
 def cmd_devices_list():
-    'list the available flavours and descriptions'
+    'list the available devices and descriptions'
     devices = get_devices()
+    if not devices:
+        raise Exception("No devices found!")
     for d in sorted(devices.keys()):
         print(devices[d])
diff --git a/packages/flavour.py b/packages/flavour.py
index 2149b82..bc0094a 100644
--- a/packages/flavour.py
+++ b/packages/flavour.py
@@ -81,5 +81,7 @@ def get_profile_flavour(profile_name: Optional[str] = None) -> Flavour:
 def cmd_flavours_list():
     'list information about available flavours'
     flavours = get_flavours()
+    if not flavours:
+        raise Exception("No flavours found!")
     for f in flavours.values():
         print(f)