diff --git a/cli/client.go b/cli/client.go
index 06d39769dff..dc925b72faa 100644
--- a/cli/client.go
+++ b/cli/client.go
@@ -1759,7 +1759,7 @@ var clientQueryAskCmd = &cli.Command{
 				return xerrors.Errorf("failed to get peerID for miner: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			if *mi.PeerId == peer.ID("SETME") {
+			if mi.PeerId == nil || *mi.PeerId == peer.ID("SETME") {
 				return fmt.Errorf("the miner hasn't initialized yet")
 			}