diff --git a/pkg/cmd/gist/view/view.go b/pkg/cmd/gist/view/view.go
index 2a19f5958..a6f4d528a 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/gist/view/view.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/gist/view/view.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func NewCmdView(f *cmdutil.Factory, runF func(*ViewOptions) error) *cobra.Comman
 			}
 
 			if !opts.IO.IsStdoutTTY() {
-				opts.Raw = true
+				return cmdutil.FlagErrorf("run or gist ID required when not running interactively\n\nUsage: gh gist view [<id> | <url>] [flags]\n\nFlags:\n  -f, --filename string   Display a single file from the gist\n      --files             List file names from the gist\n  -r, --raw               Print raw instead of rendered gist contents\n  -w, --web               Open gist in the browser\n")
 			}
 
 			if runF != nil {