diff --git a/smartsim/_core/_cli/cli.py b/smartsim/_core/_cli/cli.py
index 7dbb144..93da137 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/_cli/cli.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/_cli/cli.py
@@ -68,14 +68,17 @@ class SmartCli:
         getattr(self, args.command)()
 
     def build(self) -> None:
+        raise RuntimeError("`smart build` not supported through spack install")
         Build()
         sys.exit(0)
 
     def clean(self) -> None:
+        raise RuntimeError("`smart clean` not supported through spack install")
         Clean()
         sys.exit(0)
 
     def clobber(self) -> None:
+        raise RuntimeError("`smart clobber` not supported through spack install")
         Clean(clean_all=True)
         sys.exit(0)