diff --git a/cmd/catalog-diff/main.go b/cmd/catalog-diff/main.go
index ddcf9f9..c689a8a 100644
--- a/cmd/catalog-diff/main.go
+++ b/cmd/catalog-diff/main.go
@@ -123,7 +123,10 @@ func main() {
 	root.AddCommand(configCmd())
 
 	if err := root.Execute(); err != nil {
-		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "error:", err)
+		// errSilent only carries an exit code; the diff is already printed.
+		if !errors.Is(err, errSilent) {
+			fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "error:", err)
+		}
 		var ee *exitError
 		if errors.As(err, &ee) {
 			os.Exit(ee.code)