diff --git a/cmd/cmd.go b/cmd/cmd.go
index 1ca885a42..d246d2599 100644
--- a/cmd/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/cmd.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ package cmd
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"strings"
 
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/models"
 	"code.gitea.io/gitea/modules/setting"
@@ -22,6 +23,10 @@ func argsSet(c *cli.Context, args ...string) error {
 		if !c.IsSet(a) {
 			return errors.New(a + " is not set")
 		}
+
+		if len(strings.TrimSpace(c.String(a))) == 0 {
+			return errors.New(a + " is required")
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }