diff --git a/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py b/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
index 0a050794c4..10fba65322 100644
--- a/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
+++ b/beetsplug/smartplaylist.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
+from shlex import quote as shell_quote
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TypeAlias
 from urllib.parse import quote
 from urllib.request import pathname2url
@@ -160,8 +161,10 @@ def update_cmd(self, lib: Library, opts: Any, args: list[str]) -> None:
             }
             if not playlists:
                 unmatched = [name for name, _, _ in self._unmatched_playlists]
+                unmatched.sort()
+                quoted_names = " ".join(shell_quote(name) for name in unmatched)
                 raise ui.UserError(
-                    f"No playlist matching any of {unmatched} found"
+                    f"No playlist matching any of {quoted_names} found"
                 )
 
             self._matched_playlists = playlists
@@ -348,7 +351,7 @@ def update_playlists(self, lib: Library, pretend: bool = False) -> None:
 
         if not pretend:
             # Write all of the accumulated track lists to files.
-            for m3u in m3us:
+            for m3u, entries in m3us.items():
                 m3u_path = normpath(
                     os.path.join(playlist_dir, bytestring_path(m3u))
                 )
@@ -364,7 +367,7 @@ def update_playlists(self, lib: Library, pretend: bool = False) -> None:
                     if extm3u:
                         keys = self.config["fields"].get(list)
                         f.write(b"#EXTM3U\n")
-                    for entry in m3us[m3u]:
+                    for entry in entries:
                         item = entry.item
                         comment = ""
                         if extm3u:
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 80cbf0e9d3..dd999ab689 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ New features
   deprecate ``overwrite``.
 - :doc:`plugins/autobpm`: The "BPM already exists for item" log message can now
   be hidden with the ``--quiet`` flag.
+- :doc:`plugins/smartplaylist`: The list of available playlists shown when an
+  unknown playlist name is passed as an argument is now sorted alphabetically
+  and printed space-delimited and POSIX shell-quoted when required. This makes
+  it easier to copy and paste multiple playlists for further use in the shell.
 
 Bug fixes
 ~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py b/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
index c62021184c..f2ecd3dda0 100644
--- a/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
+++ b/test/plugins/test_smartplaylist.py
@@ -574,3 +574,20 @@ def test_splupdate(self):
         for name in (b"my_playlist.m3u", b"all.m3u"):
             with open(path.join(self.temp_dir, name), "rb") as f:
                 assert f.read() == self.item.path + b"\n"
+
+    def test_splupdate_unknown_playlist_error_is_sorted_and_quoted(self):
+        config["smartplaylist"]["playlists"].set(
+            [
+                {"name": "z last.m3u", "query": self.item.title},
+                {"name": "rock'n roll.m3u", "query": self.item.title},
+                {"name": "a one.m3u", "query": self.item.title},
+            ]
+        )
+
+        with pytest.raises(UserError) as exc_info:
+            self.run_with_output("splupdate", "tagada")
+
+        assert str(exc_info.value) == (
+            "No playlist matching any of "
+            "'a one.m3u' 'rock'\"'\"'n roll.m3u' 'z last.m3u' found"
+        )