diff --git a/apps/esmtool/esmtool.cpp b/apps/esmtool/esmtool.cpp
index 57e9f59cc9..a60e9f0e20 100644
--- a/apps/esmtool/esmtool.cpp
+++ b/apps/esmtool/esmtool.cpp
@@ -122,6 +122,11 @@ bool parseOptions (int argc, char** argv, Arguments &info)
         std::cerr << "ERROR: " << x.what() << std::endl;
         return false;
     }
+    catch(boost::program_options::invalid_command_line_syntax & x)
+    {
+        std::cerr << "ERROR: " << x.what() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
 
     bpo::notify(variables);
 
diff --git a/apps/mwiniimporter/main.cpp b/apps/mwiniimporter/main.cpp
index 9aff898b9f..364a6b1a4a 100644
--- a/apps/mwiniimporter/main.cpp
+++ b/apps/mwiniimporter/main.cpp
@@ -43,8 +43,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
         std::cerr << "ERROR: " << x.what() << std::endl;
         return false;
     }
-
-    
+    catch(boost::program_options::invalid_command_line_syntax & x)
+    {
+        std::cerr << "ERROR: " << x.what() << std::endl;
+        return false;
+    }
 
     if(vm.count("help") || !vm.count("ini") || !vm.count("cfg")) {
         std::cout << desc;