diff --git a/guix/scripts/refresh.scm b/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
index a94bb22a91c9fdd77e63f9f6ad80ebee7ca471af..2341ae67775a4a8b936b2407ef9ec161c3ca035b 100644
--- a/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
+++ b/guix/scripts/refresh.scm
@@ -197,9 +197,10 @@ (define %updaters
 
 (define (lookup-updater name)
   "Return the updater called NAME."
-  (find (lambda (updater)
-          (eq? name (upstream-updater-name updater)))
-        %updaters))
+  (or (find (lambda (updater)
+              (eq? name (upstream-updater-name updater)))
+            %updaters)
+      (leave (_ "~a: no such updater~%") name)))
 
 (define (list-updaters-and-exit)
   "Display available updaters and exit."