diff --git a/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list.go b/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list.go
index 87db0fc5c..6e228b51c 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list.go
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ func NewCmdList(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ListOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 				return cmdutil.FlagErrorf("invalid limit: %v", opts.Limit)
 			}
 
+			if flagFilter == "" {
+				if opts.IncludeContent {
+					return cmdutil.FlagErrorf("cannot use --include-content without --filter")
+				}
+			}
+
 			if filter, err := regexp.CompilePOSIX(flagFilter); err != nil {
 				return err
 			} else {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list_test.go b/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list_test.go
index 80e3178ab..0b88caf83 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list_test.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/gist/list/list_test.go
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ func TestNewCmdList(t *testing.T) {
 			cli:      "--filter octo(",
 			wantsErr: true,
 		},
+		{
+			name:     "include content without filter",
+			cli:      "--include-content",
+			wantsErr: true,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {