diff --git a/flux_local/tool/diff.py b/flux_local/tool/diff.py
index 9cb59120..acdf8d78 100644
--- a/flux_local/tool/diff.py
+++ b/flux_local/tool/diff.py
@@ -375,7 +375,8 @@ async def run(  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
             )
 
         if not helm_visitor.releases and not orig_helm_visitor.releases:
-            print(selector.not_found("HelmRelease", query.helm_release))
+            with open(output_file, "w") as file:
+                print(selector.not_found("HelmRelease", query.helm_release), file=file)
             return
 
         # Find HelmRelease objects with diffs and prune all other HelmReleases from