diff --git a/tools/gts_copy.cc b/tools/gts_copy.cc
index 92dfe4530..9fdf7041a 100644
--- a/tools/gts_copy.cc
+++ b/tools/gts_copy.cc
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ int grib_tool_new_filename_action(grib_runtime_options* options, const char* fil
 
 int grib_tool_new_file_action(grib_runtime_options* options, grib_tools_file* file)
 {
+    exit_if_input_is_directory(tool_name, file->name);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/gts_get.cc b/tools/gts_get.cc
index 39c1d2731..ccdf51d83 100644
--- a/tools/gts_get.cc
+++ b/tools/gts_get.cc
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ int grib_tool_new_filename_action(grib_runtime_options* options, const char* fil
 
 int grib_tool_new_file_action(grib_runtime_options* options, grib_tools_file* file)
 {
+    exit_if_input_is_directory(tool_name, file->name);
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/gts_ls.cc b/tools/gts_ls.cc
index b6a8a6666..50a8a70cf 100644
--- a/tools/gts_ls.cc
+++ b/tools/gts_ls.cc
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ int grib_tool_new_filename_action(grib_runtime_options* options, const char* fil
 
 int grib_tool_new_file_action(grib_runtime_options* options, grib_tools_file* file)
 {
+    exit_if_input_is_directory(tool_name, file->name);
     return 0;
 }