diff --git a/cmd/common.go b/cmd/common.go
index 8b4e9a727..549c5a2e4 100644
--- a/cmd/common.go
+++ b/cmd/common.go
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 package cmd
 
-import "github.com/hbagdi/deck/dump"
+import (
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/hbagdi/deck/dump"
+	"github.com/hbagdi/deck/utils"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+)
 
 var stopChannel chan struct{}
 
@@ -12,3 +18,32 @@ func SetStopCh(stopCh chan struct{}) {
 }
 
 var dumpConfig dump.Config
+
+// checkWorkspace checks if workspace exists in Kong.
+func checkWorkspace(config utils.KongClientConfig) error {
+
+	workspace := config.Workspace
+	if workspace == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	client, err := utils.GetKongClient(config)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", config.Address+"/workspace/"+workspace,
+		nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	resp, err := client.Do(nil, req, nil)
+	if resp.StatusCode == 404 {
+		return errors.Errorf("workspace '%v' does not exist in Kong, "+
+			"please create it before running decK.", workspace)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return errors.Wrapf(err, "checking workspace '%v' in Kong", workspace)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/diff.go b/cmd/diff.go
index 42183f308..948988844 100644
--- a/cmd/diff.go
+++ b/cmd/diff.go
@@ -33,11 +33,17 @@ that will be created or updated or deleted.
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		config.Workspace = workspace
+		if err := checkWorkspace(config); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		client, err := utils.GetKongClient(config)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		dumpConfig.SelectorTags = selectTags
 		currentState, err := dump.GetState(client, dumpConfig)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/sync.go b/cmd/sync.go
index 103a7ace6..37b559af6 100644
--- a/cmd/sync.go
+++ b/cmd/sync.go
@@ -31,10 +31,15 @@ to get Kong's state in sync with the input state.`,
 			return err
 		}
 		config.Workspace = workspace
+		if err := checkWorkspace(config); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
 		client, err := utils.GetKongClient(config)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
+
 		dumpConfig.SelectorTags = selectTags
 		currentState, err := dump.GetState(client, dumpConfig)
 		if err != nil {