diff --git a/messages/retrieve.start.md b/messages/retrieve.start.md
index 6108b8a0..dfcad166 100644
--- a/messages/retrieve.start.md
+++ b/messages/retrieve.start.md
@@ -192,3 +192,14 @@ The retrieve target directory [%s] overlaps one of your package directories. Spe
 # wantsToRetrieveCustomFields
 
 Because you're retrieving one or more CustomFields, we're also retrieving the CustomObject to which it's associated.
+
+# noSourceTracking
+
+Unable to track changes in your source files.
+This command expects the org to support source tracking. If it doesn't, you must specify the metadata you want to retrieve. 
+
+# noSourceTracking.actions
+
+- Use  the `--source-dir`, `--manifest` or `--package-name` flags to retrieve metadata in source format.
+
+- Use the `--target-metadata-dir` flag to retrieve metadata in metadata format to a directory.
diff --git a/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts b/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
index 99374b56..d31518e4 100644
--- a/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
+++ b/src/commands/project/retrieve/start.ts
@@ -359,6 +359,13 @@ const buildRetrieveAndDeleteTargets = async (
     !flags['package-name']?.length;
 
   if (isChanges) {
+    if (!(await flags['target-org'].supportsSourceTracking())) {
+      throw new SfError(
+        messages.getMessage('noSourceTracking'),
+        'noSourceTracking',
+        messages.getMessages('noSourceTracking.actions')
+      );
+    }
     const stl = await SourceTracking.create({
       org: flags['target-org'],
       project: await SfProject.resolve(),