diff --git a/collects/planet2/main.rkt b/collects/planet2/main.rkt
index 4123907b34..6ea113c536 100644
--- a/collects/planet2/main.rkt
+++ b/collects/planet2/main.rkt
@@ -85,9 +85,11 @@
      (config-cmd set key+vals)))]
  [create
   "Bundle a new package"
-  [(#:str "plt") format ()
+  [(#:str #f) format ()
    ("Select the format of the package to be created."
     "Options are: tgz, zip, plt")]
   [#:bool manifest () "Creates a manifest file for a directory, rather than an archive"]
   #:args (maybe-dir)
+  (unless (or manifest format)
+    (error 'planet2 "You must specify an archive format."))
   (create-cmd (if manifest "MANIFEST" format) maybe-dir)])
diff --git a/collects/planet2/scribblings/planet2.scrbl b/collects/planet2/scribblings/planet2.scrbl
index f2c867c2c8..639ab9b798 100644
--- a/collects/planet2/scribblings/planet2.scrbl
+++ b/collects/planet2/scribblings/planet2.scrbl
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ this command fails atomically. It accepts the following options:
 @item{@exec{create package-directory} -- Bundles a package. It accepts the following options:
 
  @itemlist[
- @item{@DFlag{format str} -- Specifies the archive format. The options are: @exec{tgz}, @exec{zip}, and @exec{plt} (default.)}
+ @item{@DFlag{format str} -- Specifies the archive format. The options are: @exec{tgz}, @exec{zip}, and @exec{plt}. This must be specified if @DFlag{manifest} is not present.}
  @item{@DFlag{manifest} -- Creates a manifest file for a directory, rather than an archive.}
  ]
 }
diff --git a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-conflicts.rkt b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-conflicts.rkt
index b31f92042d..977f231650 100644
--- a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-conflicts.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-conflicts.rkt
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
  (shelly-begin
   (initialize-indexes)
 
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/planet2-test1"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/planet2-test1-not-conflict"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/planet2-test1"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/planet2-test1-not-conflict"
   (shelly-install "only modules are considered for conflicts"
                   "test-pkgs/planet2-test1.plt"
                   $ "raco pkg install test-pkgs/planet2-test1-not-conflict.plt")
diff --git a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-create.rkt b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-create.rkt
index b4d342b04b..f18a93de15 100644
--- a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-create.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-create.rkt
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
     $ "raco pkg create --format tgz test-pkgs/does-not-exist" =exit> 1
     $ "test -f test-pkgs/does-not-exist.tgz" =exit> 1)
 
+   $ "raco pkg create planet2-test1" =exit> 1
+
    (define-syntax-rule (shelly-create pkg fmt)
      (shelly-case
       (format "create format ~a" fmt)
diff --git a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-raco.rkt b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-raco.rkt
index 861801c5f4..072e412a91 100644
--- a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-raco.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-raco.rkt
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  (with-fake-root
   (shelly-case
    "raco install/update uses raco setup, unless you turn it off (cmdline)"
-   $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
+   $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 1
    $ "raco pkg install --dont-setup test-pkgs/raco-pkg.plt"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 1))
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
   (shelly-case
    "raco install/update uses raco setup, unless you turn it off (env)"
    (putenv "PLT_PLANET2_DONTSETUP" "1")
-   $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
+   $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 1
    $ "raco pkg install --dont-setup test-pkgs/raco-pkg.plt"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 1
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
  (with-fake-root
   (shelly-case
    "raco install/update uses raco setup"
-   $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
+   $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/raco-pkg"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 1
    $ "raco pkg install test-pkgs/raco-pkg.plt"
    $ "raco raco-pkg" =exit> 0)))
diff --git a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-auto.rkt b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-auto.rkt
index c5493eff9c..988b68956e 100644
--- a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-auto.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-auto.rkt
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@
 (pkg-tests
  (shelly-case
   "create packages"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-b-second"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-a-first"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-a-second")
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-b-second"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-a-first"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-a-second")
 
  (with-fake-root
   (shelly-case
diff --git a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-deps.rkt b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-deps.rkt
index 1378f76510..1b2f9bd8cf 100644
--- a/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-deps.rkt
+++ b/collects/tests/planet2/tests-update-deps.rkt
@@ -27,11 +27,11 @@
 (pkg-tests
  (shelly-case
   "create packages"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-b-first"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-b-second"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-a-first"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-a-second"
-  $ "raco pkg create test-pkgs/pkg-a-third")
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-b-first"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-b-second"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-a-first"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-a-second"
+  $ "raco pkg create --format plt test-pkgs/pkg-a-third")
 
  (with-fake-root
   (shelly-case