--- a/cmd-find.c	

+++ a/cmd-find.c	

@@ -977,8 +977,11 @@ cmd_find_target(struct cmd_find_state *fs, struct cmdq_item *item,

 	} else if (cmd_find_from_client(&current, item->client) == 0) {

 		fs->current = ¤t;

 		log_debug("%s: current is from client", __func__);

-	} else

+	} else {

+		if (~flags & CMD_FIND_QUIET)

+			cmdq_error(item, "no current target");

 		goto error;

+	}

 	if (!cmd_find_valid_state(fs->current))

 		fatalx("invalid current find state");