diff --git a/pkg/commands/template.go b/pkg/commands/template.go
index e51cbd9..71c5cb5 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/template.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/template.go
@@ -96,9 +96,6 @@ var templateCmd = &cobra.Command{
 		templateFunc := template
 		if len(templateCmdFlags.configFiles) > 0 {
 			templateFunc = templateWithFiles
-			if len(templateCmdFlags.configFiles) == 0 {
-				return fmt.Errorf("cannot use --in-place without --file")
-			}
 		}
 
 		if templateCmdFlags.offline {
diff --git a/pkg/engine/engine.go b/pkg/engine/engine.go
index 0a8be47..7238e73 100644
--- a/pkg/engine/engine.go
+++ b/pkg/engine/engine.go
@@ -241,6 +241,10 @@ func Render(ctx context.Context, c *client.Client, opts Options) ([]byte, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	if len(opts.TemplateFiles) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("templates are not set for the command: please use `--file` or `--template` flag")
+	}
+
 	configPatches := []string{}
 	for _, templateFile := range opts.TemplateFiles {
 		// Use path.Join (not filepath.Join) because helm engine keys always use forward slashes