diff --git a/openstackclient/api/auth.py b/openstackclient/api/auth.py
index bfb2f83a47..fa196fa43e 100644
--- a/openstackclient/api/auth.py
+++ b/openstackclient/api/auth.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from keystoneclient.auth import base
 
 from openstackclient.common import exceptions as exc
 from openstackclient.common import utils
+from openstackclient.i18n import _
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -122,6 +123,25 @@ def build_auth_params(auth_plugin_name, cmd_options):
     return (auth_plugin_class, auth_params)
 
 
+def check_valid_auth_options(options, auth_plugin_name):
+    """Perform basic option checking, provide helpful error messages"""
+
+    msg = ''
+    if auth_plugin_name.endswith('password'):
+        if not options.os_username:
+            msg += _('Set a username with --os-username or OS_USERNAME\n')
+        if not options.os_auth_url:
+            msg += _('Set an authentication URL, with --os-auth-url or'
+                     ' OS_AUTH_URL\n')
+        if (not options.os_project_id and not options.os_domain_id and not
+                options.os_domain_name and not options.os_project_name):
+            msg += _('Set a scope, such as a project or domain, with '
+                     '--os-project-name or OS_PROJECT_NAME')
+
+    if msg:
+        raise exc.CommandError('Missing parameter(s): \n%s' % msg)
+
+
 def build_auth_plugins_option_parser(parser):
     """Auth plugins options builder
 
@@ -140,7 +160,7 @@ def build_auth_plugins_option_parser(parser):
              ' (Env: OS_AUTH_TYPE)',
         choices=available_plugins
     )
-    # make sur we catch old v2.0 env values
+    # make sure we catch old v2.0 env values
     envs = {
         'OS_PROJECT_NAME': utils.env(
             'OS_PROJECT_NAME',
diff --git a/openstackclient/common/clientmanager.py b/openstackclient/common/clientmanager.py
index 0396e83dd2..cc75c68d48 100644
--- a/openstackclient/common/clientmanager.py
+++ b/openstackclient/common/clientmanager.py
@@ -74,13 +74,16 @@ class ClientManager(object):
         :param pw_func:
             Callback function for asking the user for a password.  The function
             takes an optional string for the prompt ('Password: ' on None) and
-            returns a string containig the password
+            returns a string containing the password
         """
 
         # If no auth type is named by the user, select one based on
         # the supplied options
         self.auth_plugin_name = auth.select_auth_plugin(auth_options)
 
+        # Basic option checking to avoid unhelpful error messages
+        auth.check_valid_auth_options(auth_options, self.auth_plugin_name)
+
         # Horrible hack alert...must handle prompt for null password if
         # password auth is requested.
         if (self.auth_plugin_name.endswith('password') and
diff --git a/openstackclient/tests/common/test_clientmanager.py b/openstackclient/tests/common/test_clientmanager.py
index 8c27e5621d..2c213f8ab0 100644
--- a/openstackclient/tests/common/test_clientmanager.py
+++ b/openstackclient/tests/common/test_clientmanager.py
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ class TestClientManager(utils.TestCase):
         client_manager = clientmanager.ClientManager(
             auth_options=FakeOptions(os_auth_url=fakes.AUTH_URL,
                                      os_username=fakes.USERNAME,
-                                     os_password=fakes.PASSWORD),
+                                     os_password=fakes.PASSWORD,
+                                     os_project_name=fakes.PROJECT_NAME),
             api_version=API_VERSION,
             verify=False,
         )
@@ -183,6 +184,7 @@ class TestClientManager(utils.TestCase):
             auth_options=FakeOptions(os_auth_url=fakes.AUTH_URL,
                                      os_username=fakes.USERNAME,
                                      os_password=fakes.PASSWORD,
+                                     os_project_name=fakes.PROJECT_NAME,
                                      os_auth_type='v2password'),
             api_version=API_VERSION,
             verify='cafile',
@@ -218,7 +220,8 @@ class TestClientManager(utils.TestCase):
         # test password auth
         params = dict(os_auth_url=fakes.AUTH_URL,
                       os_username=fakes.USERNAME,
-                      os_password=fakes.PASSWORD)
+                      os_password=fakes.PASSWORD,
+                      os_project_name=fakes.PROJECT_NAME)
         self._select_auth_plugin(params, '2.0', 'v2password')
         self._select_auth_plugin(params, '3', 'v3password')
         self._select_auth_plugin(params, 'XXX', 'password')
diff --git a/openstackclient/tests/fakes.py b/openstackclient/tests/fakes.py
index e25751d643..d37555e347 100644
--- a/openstackclient/tests/fakes.py
+++ b/openstackclient/tests/fakes.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ AUTH_TOKEN = "foobar"
 AUTH_URL = "http://0.0.0.0"
 USERNAME = "itchy"
 PASSWORD = "scratchy"
+PROJECT_NAME = "poochie"
 
 TEST_RESPONSE_DICT = fixture.V2Token(token_id=AUTH_TOKEN,
                                      user_name=USERNAME)