diff --git a/src/cli/cli.cpp b/src/cli/cli.cpp
index 223a2aa1f..570205e63 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli.cpp
@@ -164,7 +164,9 @@ void Interpreter::OutputResult(otError aError)
     {
         if (aError != OT_ERROR_NONE)
         {
-            OutputLine("Error %u: %s", aError, otThreadErrorToString(aError));
+            // For internal debug commands, prepending `*` to prevent cli client from treating this as a fatal error and
+            // exit.
+            OutputLine("* Error %u: %s", aError, otThreadErrorToString(aError));
         }
 
         ExitNow();