diff --git a/x/pairing/client/cli/query_effective_policy.go b/x/pairing/client/cli/query_effective_policy.go
index f7a4ce565c..9ef356e8e8 100644
--- a/x/pairing/client/cli/query_effective_policy.go
+++ b/x/pairing/client/cli/query_effective_policy.go
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ func CmdEffectivePolicy() *cobra.Command {
 			if len(args) > 1 {
 				address, err = utils.ParseCLIAddress(clientCtx, args[1])
 				if err != nil {
-					return err
+					// this should allow project names not only addresses
+					address = args[1]
 				}
 			} else {
 				clientCtxForTx, err := client.GetClientQueryContext(cmd)