diff --git a/src/subcommand/wallet/inscribe.rs b/src/subcommand/wallet/inscribe.rs
index a0f9c641a4..202360e85e 100644
--- a/src/subcommand/wallet/inscribe.rs
+++ b/src/subcommand/wallet/inscribe.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ pub(crate) struct ParentInfo {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Parser)]
+#[clap(
+  group = ArgGroup::new("source")
+      .required(true)
+      .args(&["file", "batch"]),
+)]
 pub(crate) struct Inscribe {
   #[arg(
     long,
@@ -121,43 +126,47 @@ impl Inscribe {
     let mode;
     let parent_info;
 
-    if let Some(batch) = self.batch {
-      let batchfile = Batchfile::load(&batch)?;
+    match (self.file, self.batch) {
+      (Some(file), None) => {
+        parent_info = Inscribe::get_parent_info(self.parent, &index, &utxos, &client, chain)?;
+        inscriptions = vec![Inscription::from_file(
+          chain,
+          file,
+          self.parent,
+          None,
+          self.metaprotocol,
+          metadata,
+        )?];
+        mode = Mode::SeparateOutputs;
+        destinations = vec![match self.destination.clone() {
+          Some(destination) => destination.require_network(chain.network())?,
+          None => get_change_address(&client, chain)?,
+        }];
+      }
+      (None, Some(batch)) => {
+        let batchfile = Batchfile::load(&batch)?;
 
-      parent_info = Inscribe::get_parent_info(batchfile.parent, &index, &utxos, &client, chain)?;
+        parent_info = Inscribe::get_parent_info(batchfile.parent, &index, &utxos, &client, chain)?;
 
-      inscriptions = batchfile.inscriptions(
-        chain,
-        parent_info.as_ref().map(|info| info.tx_out.value),
-        metadata,
-        postage,
-      )?;
+        inscriptions = batchfile.inscriptions(
+          chain,
+          parent_info.as_ref().map(|info| info.tx_out.value),
+          metadata,
+          postage,
+        )?;
 
-      mode = batchfile.mode;
+        mode = batchfile.mode;
 
-      let destination_count = match batchfile.mode {
-        Mode::SharedOutput => 1,
-        Mode::SeparateOutputs => inscriptions.len(),
-      };
+        let destination_count = match batchfile.mode {
+          Mode::SharedOutput => 1,
+          Mode::SeparateOutputs => inscriptions.len(),
+        };
 
-      destinations = (0..destination_count)
-        .map(|_| get_change_address(&client, chain))
-        .collect::<Result<Vec<Address>>>()?;
-    } else {
-      parent_info = Inscribe::get_parent_info(self.parent, &index, &utxos, &client, chain)?;
-      inscriptions = vec![Inscription::from_file(
-        chain,
-        self.file.clone().unwrap(),
-        self.parent,
-        None,
-        self.metaprotocol.clone(),
-        metadata.clone(),
-      )?];
-      mode = Mode::SeparateOutputs;
-      destinations = vec![match self.destination.clone() {
-        Some(destination) => destination.require_network(chain.network())?,
-        None => get_change_address(&client, chain)?,
-      }];
+        destinations = (0..destination_count)
+          .map(|_| get_change_address(&client, chain))
+          .collect::<Result<Vec<Address>>>()?;
+      }
+      _ => unreachable!(),
     }
 
     Batch {
@@ -1281,4 +1290,14 @@ inscriptions:
         .contains("the argument '--batch <BATCH>' cannot be used with"));
     }
   }
+
+  #[test]
+  fn batch_or_file_is_required() {
+    assert!(
+      Arguments::try_parse_from(["ord", "wallet", "inscribe", "--fee-rate", "1",])
+        .unwrap_err()
+        .to_string()
+        .contains("error: the following required arguments were not provided:\n  <--file <FILE>|--batch <BATCH>>")
+    );
+  }
 }