diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index b3f8c62..b846790 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ fn run() -> Result<()> {
     let cli_arguments = get_cli_arguments(env::args_os());
     let mut options = Options::from_cli_arguments(&cli_arguments)?;
     let commands = Commands::from_cli_arguments(&cli_arguments)?;
+    options.validate_against_command_list(&commands)?;
+
     let export_manager = ExportManager::from_cli_arguments(
         &cli_arguments,
         options.time_unit,
         options.sort_order_exports,
     )?;
 
-    options.validate_against_command_list(&commands)?;
-
     let mut scheduler = Scheduler::new(&commands, &options, &export_manager);
     scheduler.run_benchmarks()?;
     scheduler.print_relative_speed_comparison()?;
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests.rs b/tests/integration_tests.rs
index 36295d9..2224a59 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests.rs
+++ b/tests/integration_tests.rs
@@ -870,6 +870,49 @@ fn exports_intermediate_results_to_file() {
     assert!(contents.contains("true"));
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn invalid_command_options_preserve_export_files() {
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
+
+    for (option, values) in [
+        ("--prepare", ["echo first", "echo second"]),
+        ("--conclude", ["echo first", "echo second"]),
+        ("--output", ["null", "pipe"]),
+    ] {
+        let directory = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let existing_export = directory.path().join("previous.json");
+        let new_export = directory.path().join("new.csv");
+        let previous_results =
+            b"{\"results\":[{\"command\":\"previous benchmark\",\"mean\":1.0}]}\n";
+        std::fs::write(&existing_export, previous_results).unwrap();
+
+        hyperfine()
+            .arg("--runs=1")
+            .arg("--export-json")
+            .arg(&existing_export)
+            .arg("--export-csv")
+            .arg(&new_export)
+            .args([option, values[0], option, values[1]])
+            .arg("echo benchmark")
+            .assert()
+            .failure()
+            .stderr(predicate::str::contains(format!(
+                "The '{option}' option has to be provided just once or N times"
+            )));
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            std::fs::read(&existing_export).unwrap(),
+            previous_results,
+            "{option} validation must preserve previous results"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !new_export.exists(),
+            "{} validation must not create export files",
+            option
+        );
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn unused_parameters_are_shown_in_benchmark_name() {
     hyperfine()