diff --git a/cmd/errors.go b/cmd/errors.go
index 60d3361b4a..7d6e5f1eb9 100644
--- a/cmd/errors.go
+++ b/cmd/errors.go
@@ -412,6 +412,26 @@ Or use --path to delete from anywhere:
 
 For more options, run 'func delete --help'`, e.Err)
 
+	case "invoke":
+		return fmt.Sprintf(`%v
+
+No function found in provided path (current directory or via --path).
+You need to be inside a function directory to invoke it (or use --path).
+
+Try this:
+  func create --language go myfunction    Create a new function
+  cd myfunction                          Go into the function directory
+  func invoke                            Invoke the function
+
+Or if you have an existing function:
+  cd path/to/your/function              Go to your function directory
+  func invoke                           Invoke the function
+
+Or use --path to invoke from anywhere:
+  func invoke --path /path/to/function
+
+For more options, run 'func invoke --help'`, e.Err)
+
 	default:
 		return e.Err.Error()
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/invoke.go b/cmd/invoke.go
index 9ff96d37fa..7d7799e1ce 100644
--- a/cmd/invoke.go
+++ b/cmd/invoke.go
@@ -150,8 +150,10 @@ func runInvoke(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string, newClient ClientFactory) (err err
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
+	if !f.Initialized() {
+		return NewErrNotInitializedFromPath(f.Root, "invoke")
+	}
 	if err = f.Validate(); err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("error validating function at '%v'. %v\n", f.Root, err)
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -162,10 +164,6 @@ func runInvoke(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string, newClient ClientFactory) (err err
 			cfg.Format, f.Invoke, cfg.Format)
 	}
 
-	if !f.Initialized() {
-		return fmt.Errorf("no function found in current directory.\nYou need to be inside a function directory to invoke it.\n\nTry this:\n  func create --language go myfunction    Create a new function\n  cd myfunction                          Go into the function directory\n  func invoke                            Now you can invoke it\n\nOr if you have an existing function:\n  cd path/to/your/function              Go to your function directory\n  func invoke                           Invoke the function")
-	}
-
 	// If extensions were provided, ensure the format is cloudevent, otherwise return an error.
 	if len(cfg.Extensions) > 0 {
 		effectiveFormat := cfg.Format
diff --git a/cmd/invoke_test.go b/cmd/invoke_test.go
index 7feae43f03..89cb8c8f54 100644
--- a/cmd/invoke_test.go
+++ b/cmd/invoke_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
 	"os"
+	"strings"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -78,3 +79,25 @@ func TestInvoke(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("function was not invoked")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestInvoke_NotInitialized ensures that invoking when there is no
+// function in the given directory fails with the appropriate error.
+func TestInvoke_NotInitialized(t *testing.T) {
+	_ = FromTempDirectory(t)
+
+	cmd := NewInvokeCmd(NewClient)
+	cmd.SetArgs([]string{})
+	err := cmd.Execute()
+
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("invoking a nonexistent function should error")
+	}
+
+	var errNotInit *ErrNotInitialized
+	if !errors.As(err, &errNotInit) {
+		t.Fatalf("expected ErrNotInitialized, got %T: %v", err, err)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "No function found in provided path") {
+		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error text returned: %v", err)
+	}
+}