diff --git a/cmd/influx/cli/cli.go b/cmd/influx/cli/cli.go
index b83505ceb4f..e84ebd95e40 100644
--- a/cmd/influx/cli/cli.go
+++ b/cmd/influx/cli/cli.go
@@ -322,8 +322,42 @@ func (c *CommandLine) use(cmd string) {
 		return
 	}
 	d := args[1]
-	c.Database = d
-	fmt.Printf("Using database %s\n", d)
+
+	// validate if specified database exists
+	response, err := c.Client.Query(client.Query{Command: "SHOW DATABASES"})
+	if err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("ERR: %s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if err := response.Error(); err != nil {
+		fmt.Printf("ERR: %s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	// verify the provided database exists
+	databaseExists := func() bool {
+		for _, result := range response.Results {
+			for _, row := range result.Series {
+				if row.Name == "databases" {
+					for _, values := range row.Values {
+						for _, database := range values {
+							if database == d {
+								return true
+							}
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return false
+	}()
+	if databaseExists {
+		c.Database = d
+		fmt.Printf("Using database %s\n", d)
+	} else {
+		fmt.Printf("ERR: Database %s doesn't exist. Run SHOW DATABASES for a list of existing databases.\n", d)
+	}
 }
 
 // SetPrecision sets client precision