diff --git a/pre_commit/main.py b/pre_commit/main.py
index 0c3eefdaa..d46c0d5b7 100644
--- a/pre_commit/main.py
+++ b/pre_commit/main.py
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ def _add_cmd(name: str, *, help: str) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     hook_impl_parser = subparsers.add_parser('hook-impl')
     add_color_option(hook_impl_parser)
     _add_config_option(hook_impl_parser)
-    hook_impl_parser.add_argument('--hook-type')
+    hook_impl_parser.add_argument('--hook-type', required=True)
     hook_impl_parser.add_argument('--hook-dir')
     hook_impl_parser.add_argument(
         '--skip-on-missing-config', action='store_true',
diff --git a/tests/main_test.py b/tests/main_test.py
index fed085fc8..5194e9ea8 100644
--- a/tests/main_test.py
+++ b/tests/main_test.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def test_adjust_args_try_repo_repo_relative(in_git_dir):
 
 
 FNS = (
-    'autoupdate', 'clean', 'gc', 'hook_impl', 'install', 'install_hooks',
+    'autoupdate', 'clean', 'gc', 'install', 'install_hooks',
     'migrate_config', 'run', 'sample_config', 'uninstall',
     'validate_config', 'validate_manifest',
 )
@@ -169,6 +169,12 @@ def test_hazmat(mock_store_dir):
     assert arg.cmd == ['cmd', '--', 'f1', 'f2']
 
 
+def test_hook_impl(mock_store_dir):
+    with mock.patch.object(main, 'hook_impl') as mck:
+        main.main(('hook-impl', '--hook-type', 'pre-commit'))
+    assert mck.call_count == 1
+
+
 def test_try_repo(mock_store_dir):
     with mock.patch.object(main, 'try_repo') as patch:
         main.main(('try-repo', '.'))