diff --git a/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id.md b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id.md
index f302d114..70a61d95 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id.md
+++ b/radicle-cli/examples/rad-id.md
@@ -147,3 +147,11 @@ $ rad id update --title "Add Eve" --description "Add Eve as a delegate" --delega
 ✗ Error: missing delegate z6MkedT…47fovFn in local storage
 ✗ Error: fatal: refusing to update identity document
 ```
+
+If no updates are specified then the update will fail:
+
+``` (fail)
+$ rad id update --title "Update canonical branch" --description "Update the canonical branch to `main`"
+✗ Error: no update specified
+✗ Hint: an update to the identity must be specified, run `rad id update -h` to see the available options
+```
diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
index f73ffbfb..4722ccbe 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/id.rs
@@ -380,6 +380,12 @@ pub fn run(options: Options, ctx: impl term::Context) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
                 }
                 proposal
             };
+            if proposal == current.doc {
+                return Err(Error::WithHint {
+                    err: anyhow!("no update specified"),
+                    hint: "an update to the identity must be specified, run `rad id update -h` to see the available options"
+                }.into());
+            }
             let revision = update(title, description, proposal, &mut identity, &signer)?;
 
             if revision.is_accepted() && revision.parent == Some(current.id) {