diff --git a/fpaste b/fpaste
index a746c5b..5dc0046 100755
--- a/fpaste
+++ b/fpaste
@@ -753,9 +753,11 @@ def main():
             break
         i += 1
 
-    # Insert "create" before file path if no command found
-    if not has_command and file_pos >= 0:
-        args_to_parse.insert(insert_pos, "create")
+    # Insert "create" if no command found and we have input
+    # (either a file path or piped stdin)
+    if not has_command:
+        if file_pos >= 0 or not sys.stdin.isatty():
+            args_to_parse.insert(insert_pos, "create")
 
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         prog="fpaste",