diff --git a/mercurial/commands.py b/mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py
@@ -361,7 +361,6 @@ def annotate(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
 
     Returns 0 on success.
     """
-    ui.pager('annotate')
     if not pats:
         raise error.Abort(_('at least one filename or pattern is required'))
 
@@ -422,6 +421,8 @@ def annotate(ui, repo, *pats, **opts):
     if linenumber and (not opts.get('changeset')) and (not opts.get('number')):
         raise error.Abort(_('at least one of -n/-c is required for -l'))
 
+    ui.pager('annotate')
+
     if fm.isplain():
         def makefunc(get, fmt):
             return lambda x: fmt(get(x))