diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 8d87a31..507e20f 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -28045,6 +28045,11 @@ async function run() {
             core.setFailed(error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error occurred while parsing outputs_json');
             return;
         }
+        // when the user attempst to only resolve the run, provide a failure message
+        if ((stepStatus || userMessage || systemMessage || outputsJsonInput) && !stepId) {
+            core.setFailed('step_id must be provided when setting step_status, user_message, system_message, or outputs_json');
+            return;
+        }
         const tempDir = process.env.RUNNER_TEMP || os.tmpdir();
         core.debug(`Temporary directory: ${tempDir}`);
         console.log(`Temporary directory: ${tempDir}`); // This will also print the path to the console
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index befe4d9..f926157 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,12 @@ async function run() {
       return;
     }
 
+    // when the user attempst to only resolve the run, provide a failure message
+    if ((stepStatus || userMessage || systemMessage || outputsJsonInput) && !stepId) {
+      core.setFailed('step_id must be provided when setting step_status, user_message, system_message, or outputs_json');
+      return;
+    }
+
     const tempDir = process.env.RUNNER_TEMP || os.tmpdir();
     core.debug(`Temporary directory: ${tempDir}`);
     console.log(`Temporary directory: ${tempDir}`); // This will also print the path to the console