diff --git a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/resource.go b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/resource.go
index 27559beb487..8edaa2fd198 100644
--- a/pkg/kubectl/cmd/resource.go
+++ b/pkg/kubectl/cmd/resource.go
@@ -44,7 +44,10 @@ func ResourceFromArgsOrFile(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string, filename string,
 		}
 
 		version, kind, err := mapper.VersionAndKindForResource(resource)
-		checkErr(err)
+		if err != nil {
+			// The error returned by mapper is "no resource defined", which is a usage error
+			usageError(cmd, err.Error())
+		}
 
 		mapping, err = mapper.RESTMapping(version, kind)
 		checkErr(err)