diff --git a/kittens/remote_file/main.py b/kittens/remote_file/main.py
index 5c8b5b8c6..04bdf19e1 100644
--- a/kittens/remote_file/main.py
+++ b/kittens/remote_file/main.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ Result = Optional[str]
 def main(args: List[str]) -> Result:
     msg = 'Ask the user what to do with the remote file. For internal use by kitty, do not run it directly.'
     try:
-        cli_opts, items = parse_args(args[1:], option_text, '', msg, 'kitty remote_file', result_class=RemoteFileCLIOptions)
+        cli_opts, items = parse_args(args[1:], option_text, '', msg, 'kitty +kitten remote_file', result_class=RemoteFileCLIOptions)
     except SystemExit as e:
         if e.code != 0:
             print(e.args[0])
diff --git a/kittens/show_error/main.py b/kittens/show_error/main.py
index b507d7ed4..e4e5ef312 100644
--- a/kittens/show_error/main.py
+++ b/kittens/show_error/main.py
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ The title for the error message.
 
 def real_main(args: List[str]) -> None:
     msg = 'Show an error message. For internal use by kitty.'
-    cli_opts, items = parse_args(args[1:], OPTIONS, '', msg, 'show_error', result_class=ErrorCLIOptions)
+    cli_opts, items = parse_args(args[1:], OPTIONS, '', msg, 'kitty +kitten show_error', result_class=ErrorCLIOptions)
+    if sys.stdin.isatty():
+        raise SystemExit('Input data for this kitten must be piped as JSON to STDIN')
     data = json.loads(sys.stdin.buffer.read())
     error_message = data['msg']
     if cli_opts.title: