diff --git a/pkg/imgpkg/cmd/imgpkg.go b/pkg/imgpkg/cmd/imgpkg.go
index 374d829ed..9275e5026 100644
--- a/pkg/imgpkg/cmd/imgpkg.go
+++ b/pkg/imgpkg/cmd/imgpkg.go
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ func NewImgpkgCmd(o *ImgpkgOptions) *cobra.Command {
 		SilenceUsage:      true,
 		DisableAutoGenTag: true,
 		Version:           Version,
+		RunE:              cobrautil.ShowHelp,
 	}
 
 	// TODO bash completion