diff --git a/include/openthread/dns_client.h b/include/openthread/dns_client.h
index fcfc3f7fa..04450ce1c 100644
--- a/include/openthread/dns_client.h
+++ b/include/openthread/dns_client.h
@@ -434,15 +434,16 @@ typedef void (*otDnsServiceCallback)(otError aError, const otDnsServiceResponse
  * the config for this query. In a non-NULL @p aConfig, some of the fields can be left unspecified (value zero). The
  * unspecified fields are then replaced by the values from the default config.
  *
- * @param[in]  aInstance        A pointer to an OpenThread instance.
- * @param[in]  aInstanceLabel   The service instance label.
- * @param[in]  aServiceName     The service name (together with @p aInstanceLabel form full instance name).
- * @param[in]  aCallback        A function pointer that shall be called on response reception or time-out.
- * @param[in]  aContext         A pointer to arbitrary context information.
- * @param[in]  aConfig          A pointer to the config to use for this query.
+ * @param[in]  aInstance          A pointer to an OpenThread instance.
+ * @param[in]  aInstanceLabel     The service instance label.
+ * @param[in]  aServiceName       The service name (together with @p aInstanceLabel form full instance name).
+ * @param[in]  aCallback          A function pointer that shall be called on response reception or time-out.
+ * @param[in]  aContext           A pointer to arbitrary context information.
+ * @param[in]  aConfig            A pointer to the config to use for this query.
  *
- * @retval OT_ERROR_NONE        Query sent successfully. @p aCallback will be invoked to report the status.
- * @retval OT_ERROR_NO_BUFS     Insufficient buffer to prepare and send query.
+ * @retval OT_ERROR_NONE          Query sent successfully. @p aCallback will be invoked to report the status.
+ * @retval OT_ERROR_NO_BUFS       Insufficient buffer to prepare and send query.
+ * @retval OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS  @p aInstanceLabel is NULL.
  *
  */
 otError otDnsClientResolveService(otInstance *            aInstance,
diff --git a/include/openthread/instance.h b/include/openthread/instance.h
index 3ed2ef1d1..adb550206 100644
--- a/include/openthread/instance.h
+++ b/include/openthread/instance.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ extern "C" {
  * @note This number versions both OpenThread platform and user APIs.
  *
  */
-#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (77)
+#define OPENTHREAD_API_VERSION (78)
 
 /**
  * @addtogroup api-instance
diff --git a/src/core/net/dns_client.cpp b/src/core/net/dns_client.cpp
index 447d7e1cb..82695baf8 100644
--- a/src/core/net/dns_client.cpp
+++ b/src/core/net/dns_client.cpp
@@ -514,12 +514,18 @@ otError Client::ResolveService(const char *       aInstanceLabel,
                                const QueryConfig *aConfig)
 {
     QueryInfo info;
+    otError   error;
+
+    VerifyOrExit(aInstanceLabel != nullptr, error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
 
     info.Clear();
     info.mQueryType                 = kServiceQuery;
     info.mCallback.mServiceCallback = aCallback;
 
-    return StartQuery(info, aConfig, aInstanceLabel, aServiceName, aContext);
+    error = StartQuery(info, aConfig, aInstanceLabel, aServiceName, aContext);
+
+exit:
+    return error;
 }
 
 #endif // OPENTHREAD_CONFIG_DNS_CLIENT_SERVICE_DISCOVERY_ENABLE
diff --git a/src/core/net/dns_client.hpp b/src/core/net/dns_client.hpp
index 3dd67126a..875288334 100644
--- a/src/core/net/dns_client.hpp
+++ b/src/core/net/dns_client.hpp
@@ -586,17 +586,17 @@ public:
      * The @p aConfig can be nullptr. In this case the default config (from `GetDefaultConfig()`) will be used as
      * the config for this query. In a non-nullptr @p aConfig, some of the fields can be left unspecified (value zero).
      * The unspecified fields are then replaced by the values from the default config.
-
      *
-     * @param[in]  aServerSockAddr  The server socket address.
-     * @param[in]  aInstanceLabel   The service instance label.
-     * @param[in]  aServiceName     The service name (together with @p aInstanceLabel form full instance name).
-     * @param[in]  aCallback        A function pointer that shall be called on response reception or time-out.
-     * @param[in]  aContext         A pointer to arbitrary context information.
-     * @param[in]  aConfig          The config to use for this query.
+     * @param[in]  aServerSockAddr    The server socket address.
+     * @param[in]  aInstanceLabel     The service instance label.
+     * @param[in]  aServiceName       The service name (together with @p aInstanceLabel form full instance name).
+     * @param[in]  aCallback          A function pointer that shall be called on response reception or time-out.
+     * @param[in]  aContext           A pointer to arbitrary context information.
+     * @param[in]  aConfig            The config to use for this query.
      *
-     * @retval OT_ERROR_NONE        Query sent successfully. @p aCallback will be invoked to report the status.
-     * @retval OT_ERROR_NO_BUFS     Insufficient buffer to prepare and send query.
+     * @retval OT_ERROR_NONE          Query sent successfully. @p aCallback will be invoked to report the status.
+     * @retval OT_ERROR_NO_BUFS       Insufficient buffer to prepare and send query.
+     * @retval OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS  @p aInstanceLabel is `nullptr`.
      *
      */
     otError ResolveService(const char *         aInstanceLabel,