diff --git a/assemble/bin/accumulo-service b/assemble/bin/accumulo-service
index 17da2f8b547..2300e7f74a5 100755
--- a/assemble/bin/accumulo-service
+++ b/assemble/bin/accumulo-service
@@ -32,15 +32,15 @@ Services:
   all                    All services (list command only)
 Commands:
   start                   Starts service(s)
-  stop [--all | [<name>]] Stops service(s)
-  kill [--all | [<name>]] Kills service(s)
+  stop [--all | <name>]   Stops service(s)
+  kill [--all | <name>]   Kills service(s)
   list [--json]           List running service(s)
 
 EOF
 }
 
 function invalid_args {
-  echo -e "Invalid arguments: $1\n"
+  echo -e "Invalid arguments: $1\n" 1>&2
   print_usage 1>&2
   exit 1
 }
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ function main() {
         if [[ -z $command_name ]]; then
           invalid_args "<command> cannot be empty"
         fi
+        if [[ $command_name =~ ^(stop|kill)$ && $all_flag != 'true' && -z $ACCUMULO_CLUSTER_ARG && -z $service_name ]]; then
+          invalid_args "'$command_name' requires --all or a service <name> (e.g. ${service}_${group}_1; see '$service list')"
+        fi
         case "$command_name" in
           start)
             start_service "$service" "$service_name" "$@"