diff --git a/sdk/python/feast/cli.py b/sdk/python/feast/cli.py
index 1d299286ec..a1fe6cd795 100644
--- a/sdk/python/feast/cli.py
+++ b/sdk/python/feast/cli.py
@@ -181,12 +181,12 @@ def feature_view_list(ctx: click.Context):
 
 @cli.command("apply", cls=NoOptionDefaultFormat)
 @click.option(
-    "--validate-off",
+    "--skip-source-validation",
     is_flag=True,
-    help="Don't validate the data sources.",
+    help="Don't validate the data sources by checking for that the tables exist.",
 )
 @click.pass_context
-def apply_total_command(ctx: click.Context, validate_off: bool):
+def apply_total_command(ctx: click.Context, skip_source_validation: bool):
     """
     Create or update a feature store deployment
     """
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def apply_total_command(ctx: click.Context, validate_off: bool):
     cli_check_repo(repo)
     repo_config = load_repo_config(repo)
     try:
-        apply_total(repo_config, repo, validate_off)
+        apply_total(repo_config, repo, skip_source_validation)
     except FeastProviderLoginError as e:
         print(str(e))
 
diff --git a/sdk/python/feast/repo_operations.py b/sdk/python/feast/repo_operations.py
index 6193911bb0..91dbba0824 100644
--- a/sdk/python/feast/repo_operations.py
+++ b/sdk/python/feast/repo_operations.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ def parse_repo(repo_root: Path) -> ParsedRepo:
 
 
 @log_exceptions_and_usage
-def apply_total(repo_config: RepoConfig, repo_path: Path, validate_off: bool):
+def apply_total(repo_config: RepoConfig, repo_path: Path, skip_source_validation: bool):
     from colorama import Fore, Style
 
     os.chdir(repo_path)
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ def apply_total(repo_config: RepoConfig, repo_path: Path, validate_off: bool):
     repo = parse_repo(repo_path)
     data_sources = [t.input for t in repo.feature_views]
 
-    if not validate_off:
+    if not skip_source_validation:
         # Make sure the data source used by this feature view is supported by Feast
         for data_source in data_sources:
             data_source.validate(repo_config)