diff --git a/plugins/preserve-tombs.cpp b/plugins/preserve-tombs.cpp
index f75b7aeb7..9216a5de4 100644
--- a/plugins/preserve-tombs.cpp
+++ b/plugins/preserve-tombs.cpp
@@ -101,6 +101,10 @@ static command_result do_command(color_ostream& out, std::vector<std::string>& p
         return CR_OK;
     }
     if (params[0] == "update") {
+        if (!is_enabled) {
+            out.printerr("Cannot update %s when not enabled", plugin_name);
+            return CR_FAILURE;
+        }
         CoreSuspender suspend;
         update_tomb_assignments(out);
         out.print("Updated tomb assignments\n");