diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index aa26d1e1..5e112353 100644
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -109,6 +109,19 @@ def _is_write_mode(args, config, **kwargs):
     ):
         write_mode = False
 
+    # If -not is set but we are not searching, throw an error
+    if write_mode and args.excluded:
+        raise JrnlException(
+            Message(
+                MsgText.InvalidArgumentUsage,
+                MsgType.NORMAL,
+                {
+                    "arg": "-not",
+                    "msg": "expected another search parameter like -on, -contains, etc.",
+                },
+            )
+        )
+
     return write_mode
 
 
diff --git a/jrnl/messages.py b/jrnl/messages.py
index 34f45e7d..40eb2331 100644
--- a/jrnl/messages.py
+++ b/jrnl/messages.py
@@ -134,6 +134,9 @@ class MsgText(Enum):
         No entries to modify, because the search returned no results
         """
 
+    # --- Usage --- #
+    InvalidArgumentUsage = "Invalid usage of {arg}: {msg}"
+
 
 class Message(NamedTuple):
     text: MsgText
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/search.feature b/tests/bdd/features/search.feature
index 44e8dc6d..64705e6b 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/search.feature
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/search.feature
@@ -292,3 +292,11 @@ Feature: Searching in a journal
             2013-06-17 20:38 This entry has a location.
 
             2013-07-17 11:38 This entry is starred!
+    
+    Scenario: Using -not without other search parameters should not open editor
+        Given we use the config "editor.yaml"
+        And we write nothing to the editor if opened
+        And we use the password "test" if prompted
+        When we run "jrnl -not @tag"
+        Then the error output should contain "Invalid usage of -not"
+        And the editor should not have been called