diff --git a/kitty/cmds.py b/kitty/cmds.py
index 83eb269d0..bdc9c9b2b 100644
--- a/kitty/cmds.py
+++ b/kitty/cmds.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class MatchError(ValueError):
         ValueError.__init__(self, 'No matching {} for expression: {}'.format(target, expression))
 
 
-def cmd(short_desc, desc=None, options_spec=None, no_response=False, argspec='...'):
+def cmd(short_desc, desc=None, options_spec=None, no_response=False, argspec='...', string_return_is_error=False):
 
     def w(func):
         func.short_desc = short_desc
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def cmd(short_desc, desc=None, options_spec=None, no_response=False, argspec='..
         func.is_cmd = True
         func.impl = lambda: globals()[func.__name__[4:]]
         func.no_response = no_response
+        func.string_return_is_error = string_return_is_error
         return func
     return w
 
@@ -299,7 +300,8 @@ reset the layout to its default configuration.
 type=bool-set
 If specified close the window this command is run in, rather than the active window.
 ''',
-    argspec=''
+    argspec='',
+    string_return_is_error=True
 )
 def cmd_resize_window(global_opts, opts, args):
     return {'match': opts.match, 'increment': opts.increment, 'axis': opts.axis, 'self': opts.self}
diff --git a/kitty/remote_control.py b/kitty/remote_control.py
index e49df4f38..44f847b64 100644
--- a/kitty/remote_control.py
+++ b/kitty/remote_control.py
@@ -130,5 +130,8 @@ def main(args):
         if response.get('tb'):
             print(response['tb'], file=sys.stderr)
         raise SystemExit(response['error'])
-    if 'data' in response:
-        print(response['data'])
+    data = response.get('data')
+    if data is not None:
+        if func.string_return_is_error and isinstance(data, str):
+            raise SystemExit(data)
+        print(data)
diff --git a/kitty/tabs.py b/kitty/tabs.py
index 8937c0257..02ad19ccf 100644
--- a/kitty/tabs.py
+++ b/kitty/tabs.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class Tab:  # {{{
         increment_as_percent = self.current_layout.bias_increment_for_cell(is_horizontal) * increment
         if self.current_layout.modify_size_of_window(self.windows, window_id, increment_as_percent, is_horizontal):
             self.relayout()
-            return ''
+            return
         return 'Could not resize'
 
     def reset_window_sizes(self):