diff --git a/src/cli/cli_coap.cpp b/src/cli/cli_coap.cpp
index 545555f4e..2828a32b5 100644
--- a/src/cli/cli_coap.cpp
+++ b/src/cli/cli_coap.cpp
@@ -143,13 +143,12 @@ otError Coap::ProcessStop(int argc, char *argv[])
 
 otError Coap::ProcessParameters(int argc, char *argv[])
 {
-    otError error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
-
-    VerifyOrExit(argc > 0, error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
-
+    otError             error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
     bool *              defaultTxParameters;
     otCoapTxParameters *txParameters;
 
+    VerifyOrExit(argc > 1, error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
+
     if (strcmp(argv[1], "request") == 0)
     {
         txParameters        = &mRequestTxParameters;