diff --git a/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp b/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
index d6776948..c97d2fbc 100644
--- a/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
@@ -36,23 +36,25 @@ int CmdStart (
   Journal& journal)
 {
   auto verbose = rules.getBoolean ("verbose");
+  const Datetime now {};
 
-  auto filter = cli.getFilter ();
-
-  auto now = Datetime ();
+  auto filter = cli.getFilter ({now, 0});
 
   if (filter.start > now)
+  {
     throw std::string ("Time tracking cannot be set in the future.");
+  }
+  else if (!filter.is_started ())
+  {
+    // The :all hint provides a filter that is neither started nor ended, which
+    // the start command cannot handle and we do not want to auto start it now.
+    throw std::string ("Interval start must be specified");
+  }
 
   auto latest = getLatestInterval (database);
 
   journal.startTransaction ();
 
-  if (!filter.is_started ())
-  {
-    filter.start = now;
-  }
-
   // If the latest interval is open, close it.
   if (latest.is_open ())
   {
diff --git a/test/start.t b/test/start.t
index aab36fac..af77e30f 100755
--- a/test/start.t
+++ b/test/start.t
@@ -263,6 +263,10 @@ class TestStart(TestCase):
         code, out, err = self.t.runError("start 2h ago proja")
         self.assertIn("The end of a date range must be after the start.", err)
 
+    def test_start_will_error_with_all_hint(self):
+        """Start will return an error when passed the :all hint"""
+        code, out, err = self.t.runError("start :all proja")
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     from simpletap import TAPTestRunner