Restored command error behavior when called from command line

Refs #19973.

2 files changed, 11 insertions, 5 deletions

diff --git a/django/core/management/base.py b/django/core/management/base.py
index fbffc89786..b61d0b9b77 100644
--- a/django/core/management/base.py
+++ b/django/core/management/base.py
@@ -52,11 +52,14 @@ class CommandParser(ArgumentParser):
         # Catch missing argument for a better error message
         if (hasattr(self.cmd, 'missing_args_message') and
                 not (args or any([not arg.startswith('-') for arg in args]))):
-            raise CommandError("Error: %s" % self.cmd.missing_args_message)
+            self.error(self.cmd.missing_args_message)
         return super(CommandParser, self).parse_args(args, namespace)
 
     def error(self, message):
-        raise CommandError("Error: %s" % message)
+        if self.cmd._called_from_command_line:
+            super(CommandParser, self).error(message)
+        else:
+            raise CommandError("Error: %s" % message)
 
 
 def handle_default_options(options):
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ class BaseCommand(object):
     args = ''
 
     # Configuration shortcuts that alter various logic.
+    _called_from_command_line = False
     can_import_settings = True
     output_transaction = False  # Whether to wrap the output in a "BEGIN; COMMIT;"
     leave_locale_alone = False
@@ -338,6 +342,7 @@ class BaseCommand(object):
         to stderr. If the ``--traceback`` option is present or the raised
         ``Exception`` is not ``CommandError``, raise it.
         """
+        self._called_from_command_line = True
         parser = self.create_parser(argv[0], argv[1])
 
         if self.use_argparse:
diff --git a/tests/admin_scripts/tests.py b/tests/admin_scripts/tests.py
index 48414272ac..b8fea1d0d3 100644
--- a/tests/admin_scripts/tests.py
+++ b/tests/admin_scripts/tests.py
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ class CommandTypes(AdminScriptTestCase):
         "NoArg Commands raise an error if an argument is provided"
         args = ['noargs_command', 'argument']
         out, err = self.run_manage(args)
-        self.assertOutput(err, "Error: unrecognized arguments: argument")
+        self.assertOutput(err, "error: unrecognized arguments: argument")
 
     def test_app_command(self):
         "User AppCommands can execute when a single app name is provided"
@@ -1508,7 +1508,7 @@ class CommandTypes(AdminScriptTestCase):
         "User AppCommands raise an error when no app name is provided"
         args = ['app_command']
         out, err = self.run_manage(args)
-        self.assertOutput(err, 'Error: Enter at least one application label.')
+        self.assertOutput(err, 'error: Enter at least one application label.')
 
     def test_app_command_multiple_apps(self):
         "User AppCommands raise an error when multiple app names are provided"
@@ -1642,9 +1642,10 @@ class StartProject(LiveServerTestCase, AdminScriptTestCase):
     ]
 
     def test_wrong_args(self):
-        "Make sure passing the wrong kinds of arguments raises a CommandError"
+        "Make sure passing the wrong kinds of arguments outputs an error and prints usage"
         out, err = self.run_django_admin(['startproject'])
         self.assertNoOutput(out)
+        self.assertOutput(err, "usage:")
         self.assertOutput(err, "You must provide a project name.")
 
     def test_simple_project(self):