diff --git a/tools/ratbagctl.in b/tools/ratbagctl.in
index 2b317980..6608426a 100755
--- a/tools/ratbagctl.in
+++ b/tools/ratbagctl.in
@@ -379,12 +379,17 @@ def func_button_get(r, args):
 
 def func_button_action_set_button(r, args):
     b, p, d = find_button(r, args)
+    if not d.CAP_BUTTON in d.capabilities:
+        raise RatbagErrorCapability("assigning a button is not supported on this device")
     b.mapping = args.target_button
     commit(d, args)
 
 
 def func_button_action_set_special(r, args):
     b, p, d = find_button(r, args)
+    if not d.CAP_BUTTON in d.capabilities:
+        raise RatbagErrorCapability("assigning a button is not supported on this device")
+
     try:
         special = args.target_special
     except AttributeError:
@@ -396,6 +401,9 @@ def func_button_action_set_special(r, args):
 
 def func_button_action_set_macro(r, args):
     b, p, d = find_button(r, args)
+    if not d.CAP_BUTTON_MACROS in d.capabilities:
+        raise RatbagErrorCapability("assigning a macro is not supported on this device")
+
     macro_keys = args.target_macro
     macro = RatbagdMacro()
     for s in macro_keys: