diff --git a/internal/repotools/cmd/syncAPIModels/main.go b/internal/repotools/cmd/syncAPIModels/main.go
index b6bcd2c4c42..dcaf9d8223d 100644
--- a/internal/repotools/cmd/syncAPIModels/main.go
+++ b/internal/repotools/cmd/syncAPIModels/main.go
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ func init() {
 func main() {
 	flag.Parse()
 	if len(modelPath) == 0 || len(outputPath) == 0 {
-		log.Fatalf("model path and output path required")
 		flag.PrintDefaults()
+		log.Fatalf("model path and output path required")
 	}
 
 	srcModels, err := findSmithyModels(modelPath)