diff --git a/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync.rs b/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync.rs
index 2ffdc601..d0b1141f 100644
--- a/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync.rs
+++ b/radicle-cli/src/commands/sync.rs
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ impl Args for Options {
                 Long("verbose") | Short('v') => {
                     verbose = true;
                 }
-                Long("seed") if matches!(mode, SyncMode::Fetch) => {
+                Long("seed") => {
                     let val = parser.value()?;
                     let val = term::args::nid(&val)?;
                     seed = Some(val);
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ impl Args for Options {
             }
         }
 
+        if seed.is_some() && mode != SyncMode::Fetch {
+            anyhow::bail!("`--seed` must be used with `--fetch`");
+        }
+
         Ok((
             Options {
                 rid,