diff --git a/cmd/dump.go b/cmd/dump.go
index 856d5db0..5d3d2f92 100644
--- a/cmd/dump.go
+++ b/cmd/dump.go
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@ func dumpCmd(execs execs, cmdConfig *cmdConfiguration) (*cobra.Command, error) {
 				prune = execs.prune
 				timer = execs.timer
 			}
+			// at this point, any errors should not have usage
+			cmd.SilenceUsage = true
 			if err := timer(timerOpts, func() error {
 				err := dump(dumpOpts)
 				if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/restore.go b/cmd/restore.go
index 12c1b14a..1334b481 100644
--- a/cmd/restore.go
+++ b/cmd/restore.go
@@ -98,6 +98,8 @@ func restoreCmd(execs execs, cmdConfig *cmdConfiguration) (*cobra.Command, error
 			if execs != nil {
 				restore = execs.restore
 			}
+			// at this point, any errors should not have usage
+			cmd.SilenceUsage = true
 			if err := restore(store, targetFile, cmdConfig.dbconn, databasesMap, compressor); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("error restoring: %v", err)
 			}