diff --git a/packages/cli.py b/packages/cli.py
index 893d9af..4561052 100644
--- a/packages/cli.py
+++ b/packages/cli.py
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ def cmd_build(paths: list[str], force=False, arch: Optional[Arch] = None, rebuil
 @click.option('-B', '--no-build', is_flag=True, default=False, help="Don't try to build packages, just copy and install")
 def cmd_sideload(paths: Iterable[str], arch: Optional[Arch] = None, no_build: bool = False):
     """Build packages, copy to the device via SSH and install them"""
+    if not paths:
+        raise Exception("No packages specified")
     arch = arch or get_profile_device(hint_or_set_arch=True).arch
     if not no_build:
         build(paths, False, arch=arch, try_download=True)
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ def cmd_check(paths):
                 return True
         return False
 
-    paths = list(paths)
+    paths = list(paths) or ['all']
     packages = filter_pkgbuilds(paths, allow_empty_results=False)
 
     for package in packages:
diff --git a/packages/pkgbuild.py b/packages/pkgbuild.py
index 4ee95e4..44dda19 100644
--- a/packages/pkgbuild.py
+++ b/packages/pkgbuild.py
@@ -388,8 +388,16 @@ def filter_pkgbuilds(
 ) -> Iterable[Pkgbuild]:
     if not (use_names or use_paths):
         raise Exception('Error: filter_packages instructed to match neither by names nor paths; impossible!')
+    paths = list(paths)
+    plural = 's' if len(paths) > 1 else ''
+    fields = []
+    if use_names:
+        fields.append('name' + plural)
+    if use_paths:
+        fields.append('path' + plural)
+    fields_err = ' or '.join(fields)
     if not allow_empty_results and not paths:
-        raise Exception("Can't search for packages: no query given")
+        raise Exception(f"Can't search for packages: no {fields_err} given")
     repo = repo or discover_pkgbuilds()
     if 'all' in paths:
         all_pkgs = list(repo.values())
@@ -412,5 +420,6 @@ def filter_pkgbuilds(
             result += [pkg]
 
     if not allow_empty_results and not result:
-        raise Exception('No packages matched by paths: ' + ', '.join([f'"{p}"' for p in paths]))
+
+        raise Exception(f'No packages matched by {fields_err}: ' + ', '.join([f'"{p}"' for p in paths]))
     return result