diff --git a/src/Commands/User.php b/src/Commands/User.php
index 9c1a91019..c0977cdf5 100644
--- a/src/Commands/User.php
+++ b/src/Commands/User.php
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 use CodeIgniter\Shield\Config\Auth;
 use CodeIgniter\Shield\Entities\User as UserEntity;
 use CodeIgniter\Shield\Exceptions\UserNotFoundException;
+use CodeIgniter\Shield\Models\GroupModel;
 use CodeIgniter\Shield\Models\UserModel;
 use CodeIgniter\Shield\Validation\ValidationRules;
 use Config\Services;
@@ -305,6 +306,11 @@ private function create(?string $username = null, ?string $email = null, ?string
 
         $user = new UserEntity($data);
 
+        // Validate the group
+        if ($group !== null && ! $this->validateGroup($group)) {
+            throw new CancelException('Invalid group: "' . $group . '"');
+        }
+
         if ($username === null) {
             $userModel->allowEmptyInserts()->save($user);
             $this->write('New User created', 'green');
@@ -327,6 +333,14 @@ private function create(?string $username = null, ?string $email = null, ?string
         }
     }
 
+    private function validateGroup(string $group): bool
+    {
+        /** @var GroupModel $groupModel */
+        $groupModel = model(GroupModel::class);
+
+        return $groupModel->isValidGroup($group);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Activate an existing user by username or email
      *
diff --git a/tests/Commands/UserTest.php b/tests/Commands/UserTest.php
index 9fdf3e148..b28cd0ae6 100644
--- a/tests/Commands/UserTest.php
+++ b/tests/Commands/UserTest.php
@@ -134,6 +134,25 @@ public function testCreateWithGroupBeta(): void
         ]);
     }
 
+    public function testCreateWithInvalidGroup(): void
+    {
+        $this->setMockIo([
+            'Secret Passw0rd!',
+            'Secret Passw0rd!',
+        ]);
+
+        command('shield:user create -n user1 -e user1@example.com -g invalid');
+
+        $this->assertStringContainsString(
+            'Invalid group: "invalid"',
+            $this->io->getFirstOutput()
+        );
+
+        $users = model(UserModel::class);
+        $user  = $users->findByCredentials(['email' => 'user1@example.com']);
+        $this->assertNull($user);
+    }
+
     public function testCreateNotUniqueName(): void
     {
         $user = $this->createUser([