diff --git a/tools/build.py b/tools/build.py
index 6c65c7190d..d988a0a649 100644
--- a/tools/build.py
+++ b/tools/build.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ from tools.build_api import mcu_toolchain_matrix
 from tools.build_api import static_analysis_scan, static_analysis_scan_lib, static_analysis_scan_library
 from tools.build_api import print_build_results
 from tools.settings import CPPCHECK_CMD, CPPCHECK_MSG_FORMAT
-from utils import argparse_filestring_type
+from utils import argparse_filestring_type, args_error
 from tools.settings import CPPCHECK_CMD, CPPCHECK_MSG_FORMAT, CLI_COLOR_MAP
 from utils import argparse_filestring_type, argparse_dir_not_parent
 
@@ -167,6 +167,9 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
     # Get toolchains list
     toolchains = options.tool if options.tool else TOOLCHAINS
 
+    if options.source_dir and not options.build_dir:
+        args_error(parser, "argument --build is required by argument --source")
+
     if options.color:
         # This import happens late to prevent initializing colorization when we don't need it
         import colorize
diff --git a/tools/get_config.py b/tools/get_config.py
index c9b2a9bebc..9782fc16ae 100644
--- a/tools/get_config.py
+++ b/tools/get_config.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ except:
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     # Parse Options
     parser = get_default_options_parser(add_clean=False, add_options=False)
-    parser.add_argument("--source", dest="source_dir", type=argparse_filestring_type,
+    parser.add_argument("--source", dest="source_dir", type=argparse_filestring_type, required=True,
                         default=[], help="The source (input) directory", action="append")
     parser.add_argument("--prefix", dest="prefix", action="append",
                       default=[], help="Restrict listing to parameters that have this prefix")
@@ -48,12 +48,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # Target
     if options.mcu is None :
-        args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify an MCU")
+        args_error(parser, "argument -m/--mcu is required")
     target = options.mcu[0]
 
     # Toolchain
     if options.tool is None:
-        args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify a TOOLCHAIN")
+        args_error(parser, "argument -t/--toolchain is required")
     toolchain = options.tool[0]
 
     options.prefix = options.prefix or [""]
diff --git a/tools/make.py b/tools/make.py
index 3dc5a63c3c..7cf7ca4a48 100644
--- a/tools/make.py
+++ b/tools/make.py
@@ -207,14 +207,20 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # Target
     if options.mcu is None :
-        args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify an MCU")
+        args_error(parser, "argument -m/--mcu is required")
     mcu = options.mcu[0]
 
     # Toolchain
     if options.tool is None:
-        args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify a TOOLCHAIN")
+        args_error(parser, "argument -t/--tool is required")
     toolchain = options.tool[0]
 
+    if (options.program is None) and (not options.source_dir):
+        args_error(parser, "one of -p, -n, or --source is required")
+
+    if options.source_dir and not options.build_dir:
+        args_error(parser, "argument --build is required when argument --source is provided")
+
     if options.color:
         # This import happens late to prevent initializing colorization when we don't need it
         import colorize
diff --git a/tools/project.py b/tools/project.py
index 530def4093..873e7fbe50 100644
--- a/tools/project.py
+++ b/tools/project.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ from tools.tests import TESTS, TEST_MAP
 from tools.tests import test_known, test_name_known
 from tools.targets import TARGET_NAMES
 from tools.libraries import LIBRARIES
-from utils import argparse_filestring_type, argparse_many
+from utils import argparse_filestring_type, argparse_many, args_error
 from utils import argparse_force_lowercase_type, argparse_force_uppercase_type, argparse_dir_not_parent
 from project_api import setup_project, perform_export, print_results, get_lib_symbols
 
@@ -131,6 +131,16 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
     # source_dir = use relative paths, otherwise sources are copied
     sources_relative = True if options.source_dir else False
+    # Target
+    if not options.mcu:
+        args_error(parser, "argument -m/--mcu is required")
+
+    # Toolchain
+    if not options.ide:
+        args_error(parser, "argument -i is required")
+
+    if (options.program is None) and (not options.source_dir):
+        args_error(parser, "one of -p, -n, or --source is required")
 
     for mcu in options.mcu:
         # Program Number or name
diff --git a/tools/test.py b/tools/test.py
index 9b568a5d93..39a4d62f3b 100644
--- a/tools/test.py
+++ b/tools/test.py
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
 
         # Target
         if options.mcu is None :
-            args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify an MCU")
+            args_error(parser, "argument -m/--mcu is required")
         mcu = options.mcu[0]
 
         # Toolchain
         if options.tool is None:
-            args_error(parser, "[ERROR] You should specify a TOOLCHAIN")
+            args_error(parser, "argument -t/--tool is required")
         toolchain = options.tool[0]
 
         # Find all tests in the relevant paths
@@ -152,8 +152,7 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         else:
             # Build all tests
             if not options.build_dir:
-                print "[ERROR] You must specify a build path"
-                sys.exit(1)
+                args_error(parser, "argument --build is required")
 
             base_source_paths = options.source_dir
 
diff --git a/tools/utils.py b/tools/utils.py
index db103d7c11..b250491dc0 100644
--- a/tools/utils.py
+++ b/tools/utils.py
@@ -282,9 +282,8 @@ def args_error(parser, message):
     parser - the ArgumentParser object that parsed the command line
     message - what went wrong
     """
-    print "\n\n%s\n\n" % message
-    parser.print_help()
-    sys.exit()
+    parser.error(message)
+    sys.exit(2)
 
 
 def construct_enum(**enums):