diff --git a/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/init_command.dart b/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/init_command.dart
index 7e7560b0..db2592f4 100644
--- a/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/init_command.dart
+++ b/packages/shorebird_cli/lib/src/commands/init_command.dart
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import 'package:shorebird_cli/src/shorebird_environment.dart';
 import 'package:shorebird_cli/src/shorebird_flavor_mixin.dart';
 import 'package:shorebird_cli/src/shorebird_java_mixin.dart';
 import 'package:shorebird_cli/src/shorebird_validation_mixin.dart';
+import 'package:shorebird_code_push_client/shorebird_code_push_client.dart';
 
 /// {@template init_command}
 ///
@@ -102,6 +103,11 @@ If you want to reinitialize Shorebird, please run "shorebird init --force".''');
       } else {
         appId = (await createApp(appName: displayName)).id;
       }
+    } on CodePushForbiddenException {
+      logger.err('''
+A paid account is required to create apps.
+To upgrade, run ${lightCyan.wrap('shorebird account upgrade')}.''');
+      return ExitCode.software.code;
     } catch (error) {
       logger.err('$error');
       return ExitCode.software.code;
diff --git a/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/init_command_test.dart b/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/init_command_test.dart
index 5c5724f2..1bb6f875 100644
--- a/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/init_command_test.dart
+++ b/packages/shorebird_cli/test/src/commands/init_command_test.dart
@@ -401,6 +401,36 @@ If you want to reinitialize Shorebird, please run "shorebird init --force".''',
       expect(exitCode, ExitCode.software.code);
     });
 
+    test(
+        '''exits with code 70 and prints error if user does not have a paid account''',
+        () async {
+      final tempDir = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync();
+      File(
+        p.join(tempDir.path, 'pubspec.yaml'),
+      ).writeAsStringSync(pubspecYamlContent);
+      when(
+        () => codePushClient.createApp(displayName: any(named: 'displayName')),
+      ).thenThrow(CodePushForbiddenException(message: 'oh no'));
+
+      final result = await IOOverrides.runZoned(
+        () => runWithOverrides(command.run),
+        getCurrentDirectory: () => tempDir,
+      );
+
+      expect(result, ExitCode.software.code);
+
+      verify(
+        () => logger.err(
+          any(
+            that: stringContainsInOrder([
+              'A paid account is required to create apps',
+              'shorebird account upgrade',
+            ]),
+          ),
+        ),
+      );
+    });
+
     test('creates shorebird.yaml for an app without flavors', () async {
       final tempDir = Directory.systemTemp.createTempSync();
       File(