diff --git a/httpie/cli/argparser.py b/httpie/cli/argparser.py
index 9bf09b3b73..3b86f6ec96 100644
--- a/httpie/cli/argparser.py
+++ b/httpie/cli/argparser.py
@@ -554,8 +554,11 @@ def _process_download_options(self):
     def _process_format_options(self):
         format_options = self.args.format_options or []
         parsed_options = PARSED_DEFAULT_FORMAT_OPTIONS
-        for options_group in format_options:
-            parsed_options = parse_format_options(options_group, defaults=parsed_options)
+        try:
+            for options_group in format_options:
+                parsed_options = parse_format_options(options_group, defaults=parsed_options)
+        except argparse.ArgumentTypeError as ex:
+            self.error(str(ex))
         self.args.format_options = parsed_options
 
     def print_manual(self):
diff --git a/tests/test_output.py b/tests/test_output.py
index 2242177dbc..8841dd5935 100644
--- a/tests/test_output.py
+++ b/tests/test_output.py
@@ -598,6 +598,27 @@ def test_format_options_accumulation(self, args, expected_format_options):
         )
         assert parsed_args.format_options == expected_format_options
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        'options, expected_error',
+        [
+            ('json.indent:x', "invalid value 'x' in 'json.indent:x' (expected int got str)"),
+            ('json.nope:1', "invalid key 'json.nope'"),
+            ('json', "invalid option 'json'"),
+        ]
+    )
+    def test_invalid_format_options_reported_as_cli_error(
+        self, options, expected_error
+    ):
+        r = http(
+            '--offline',
+            '--format-options', options,
+            'example.org',
+            tolerate_error_exit_status=True,
+        )
+        assert r.exit_status == ExitStatus.ERROR
+        assert expected_error in r.stderr
+        assert 'Traceback' not in r.stderr
+
 
 @responses.activate
 def test_response_mime_overwrite():