diff --git a/gemma-cli/src/main/java/ubic/gemma/core/apps/ExternalDatabaseUpdaterCli.java b/gemma-cli/src/main/java/ubic/gemma/core/apps/ExternalDatabaseUpdaterCli.java
index 5299db8d10..404d8fbb5b 100644
--- a/gemma-cli/src/main/java/ubic/gemma/core/apps/ExternalDatabaseUpdaterCli.java
+++ b/gemma-cli/src/main/java/ubic/gemma/core/apps/ExternalDatabaseUpdaterCli.java
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ protected void buildOptions( Options options ) {
                 .longOpt( "name" )
                 .hasArg()
                 .optionalArg( false )
-                .desc( "External database name" ).build() );
+                .desc( "External database name" )
+                .required( true ).build() );
         options.addOption( DESCRIPTION_OPTION, "description", true, "New description" );
         options.addOption( RELEASE_OPTION, "release", false, "Update the release (only affects last modified moment))" );
         options.addOption( RELEASE_VERSION_OPTION, "release-version", true, "Release version" );