diff --git a/dnf/base.py b/dnf/base.py
index f9d31b3..fe359fb 100644
--- a/dnf/base.py
+++ b/dnf/base.py
@@ -1162,6 +1162,9 @@ class Base(object):
         pkgs = []
         if not path_list:
             return pkgs
+        if self._goal.req_length():
+            raise dnf.exceptions.Error(
+                _("Cannot add local packages, because transaction job already exists"))
         pkgs_error = []
         for path in path_list:
             if not os.path.exists(path) and '://' in path:
diff --git a/doc/api_base.rst b/doc/api_base.rst
index 5fd5b4c..618886d 100644
--- a/doc/api_base.rst
+++ b/doc/api_base.rst
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@
 
     An instance of :class:`dnf.conf.Conf`, concentrates all the different configuration options. :meth:`__init__` initializes this to usable defaults.
 
+  .. attribute:: goal
+
+    An instance of :class:`dnf.goal.Goal` that this :class:`Base<dnf.Base>` object is using.
+
   .. attribute:: repos
 
     A :class:`dnf.repodict.RepoDict` instance, this member object contains all the repositories available.
@@ -51,11 +55,12 @@
 
   .. method:: add_remote_rpms(path_list, strict=True, progress=None)
 
-    Add RPM files at list `path_list` to the :attr:`sack` and return the list of respective
-    :class:`dnf.package.Package` instances. Does the download to a temporary files for each path if
-    `path` is a remote URL. Raises :exc:`IOError` if there are problems obtaining during reading
-    files and `strict=True`. `progress`, if given, should be a :class:`.DownloadProgress` and can be
-    used by the caller to monitor the progress of the download.
+    This function must be called before anything is added to the :attr:`goal`. Adds RPM files
+    in path_list to the :attr:`sack` and return the list of respective :class:`dnf.package.Package`
+    instances. Downloads the RPMs to a temporary file for each path if it is a remote URL.
+    Raises :exc:`IOError` if there are `IO` problems with files and `strict=True`. Raises
+    :exc:`dnf.exceptions.Error` if the :attr:`goal` is not empty. `progress`, if given, should be a
+    :class:`.DownloadProgress` instance which can be used to monitor the progress of the download.
 
   .. method:: close()
 
diff --git a/doc/command_ref.rst b/doc/command_ref.rst
index 369d10c..fa2bc51 100644
--- a/doc/command_ref.rst
+++ b/doc/command_ref.rst
@@ -1516,6 +1516,11 @@ Shell Command
         * reset: reset the transaction
         * run: resolve and run the transaction
 
+    Note that all local packages must be used in the first shell transaction subcommand (e.g.
+    `install /tmp/nodejs-1-1.x86_64.rpm /tmp/acpi-1-1.noarch.rpm`) otherwise an error will occur.
+    Any `disable`, `enable`, and `reset` module operations (e.g. `module enable nodejs`) must also
+    be performed before any other shell transaction subcommand is used.
+
 .. _swap_command-label:
 
 ------------
diff --git a/tests/test_base.py b/tests/test_base.py
index 0d50516..8f807b7 100644
--- a/tests/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/test_base.py
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ class MockBaseTest(tests.support.DnfBaseTestCase):
     """Test the Base methods that need a Sack."""
 
     REPOS = ["main"]
+    INIT_SACK = True
 
     def test_add_remote_rpms(self):
         pkgs = self.base.add_remote_rpms([tests.support.TOUR_50_PKG_PATH])