diff --git a/cmd/ghcs/main.go b/cmd/ghcs/main.go
index 400f5324c..ce8ec91e6 100644
--- a/cmd/ghcs/main.go
+++ b/cmd/ghcs/main.go
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ var rootCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 func Execute() {
+	if os.Getenv("GITHUB_TOKEN") == "" {
+		fmt.Println("The GITHUB_TOKEN environment variable is required. Create a Personal Access Token with org SSO access at https://github.com/settings/tokens/new.")
+		os.Exit(1)
+	}
+
 	if err := rootCmd.Execute(); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, err)
 		os.Exit(1)