diff --git a/src/risotto/controller.py b/src/risotto/controller.py
index 1a829b8a..663c5e5a 100644
--- a/src/risotto/controller.py
+++ b/src/risotto/controller.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ from .dispatcher import dispatcher
 from .context import Context
 from .remote import remote
 from .services import list_modules
+from .utils import _
 
 
 class Controller:
@@ -15,10 +16,13 @@ class Controller:
     async def call(self,
                    uri: str,
                    risotto_context: Context,
+                   *args,
                    **kwargs):
         """ a wrapper to dispatcher's call"""
         version, module, message = uri.split('.', 2)
         uri = module + '.' + message
+        if args:
+            raise ValueError(_(f'the URI "{uri}" can only be called with positionals arguments'))
         if module not in self.risotto_modules:
             return await remote.remove_call(module,
                                             version,
@@ -32,10 +36,13 @@ class Controller:
     async def publish(self,
                       uri: str,
                       risotto_context: Context,
+                   *args,
                       **kwargs):
         """ a wrapper to dispatcher's publish"""
         version, module, submessage = uri.split('.', 2)
         version, message = uri.split('.', 1)
+        if args:
+            raise ValueError(_(f'the URI "{uri}" can only be published with positionals arguments'))
         if module not in self.risotto_modules:
             await remote.remove_call(module,
                                      version,