diff --git a/cmd/dagger/cmd/output/list.go b/cmd/dagger/cmd/output/list.go
index 58512875..e835cf57 100644
--- a/cmd/dagger/cmd/output/list.go
+++ b/cmd/dagger/cmd/output/list.go
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ func ListOutputs(ctx context.Context, st *state.State, all bool) {
 		Str("environment", st.Name).
 		Logger()
 
+	if st.Computed == "" {
+		lg.Fatal().Msg("cannot list environment outputs: please run `dagger up` first")
+	}
+
 	c, err := client.New(ctx, "", false)
 	if err != nil {
 		lg.Fatal().Err(err).Msg("unable to create client")
@@ -87,7 +91,7 @@ func ListOutputs(ctx context.Context, st *state.State, all bool) {
 	})
 
 	if err != nil {
-		lg.Warn().Err(err).Msg("failed to query environment")
+		lg.Fatal().Err(err).Msg("failed to query environment")
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/dagger/cmd/up.go b/cmd/dagger/cmd/up.go
index 8376da13..cf9a8fb8 100644
--- a/cmd/dagger/cmd/up.go
+++ b/cmd/dagger/cmd/up.go
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ var upCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			lg.Fatal().Err(err).Msg("failed to update environment")
 		}
 
+		if !term.IsTerminal(int(os.Stdout.Fd())) {
+			lg.Debug().Msg("not a tty, output list disabled")
+			return
+		}
+
 		output.ListOutputs(ctx, st, false)
 	},
 }
diff --git a/environment/environment.go b/environment/environment.go
index a80300c2..72a7f2e5 100644
--- a/environment/environment.go
+++ b/environment/environment.go
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ func (e *Environment) ScanInputs(ctx context.Context, mergeUserInputs bool) ([]*
 
 func (e *Environment) ScanOutputs(ctx context.Context) ([]*compiler.Value, error) {
 	if e.state.Computed == "" {
-		return nil, errors.New("cannot query environment outputs: please run `dagger up` first")
+		return nil, errors.New("environment has been computed yet")
 	}
 
 	src, err := e.prepare(ctx)