diff --git a/internal/accounts/create.go b/internal/accounts/create.go
index db8015462..ac87871a3 100644
--- a/internal/accounts/create.go
+++ b/internal/accounts/create.go
@@ -57,13 +57,19 @@ var createCommand = &command.Command{
 
 func create(
 	_ []string,
-	_ command.GlobalFlags,
-	_ output.Logger,
+	globalFlags command.GlobalFlags,
+	logger output.Logger,
 	flow flowkit.Services,
 	state *flowkit.State,
 ) (command.Result, error) {
 	if len(createFlags.Keys) == 0 { // if user doesn't provide any flags go into interactive mode
-		return createInteractive(state)
+
+		if len(createFlags.SigAlgo) > 0 || globalFlags.Network != "" {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("You provided flags, but no key. A key is required to create an account in manual mode. Remove flags if you'd like to use interactive mode.")
+		} else {
+			return createInteractive(state)
+		}
+
 	} else {
 		return createManual(state, flow)
 	}