diff --git a/src/kit/taosdump/taosdump.c b/src/kit/taosdump/taosdump.c
index b645585ede..9f176904fe 100644
--- a/src/kit/taosdump/taosdump.c
+++ b/src/kit/taosdump/taosdump.c
@@ -483,22 +483,26 @@ static int queryDbImpl(TAOS *taos, char *command) {
 static void parse_args(int argc, char *argv[], SArguments *arguments) {
   for (int i = 1; i < argc; i++) {
     if (strcmp(argv[i], "-E") == 0) {
-      char *tmp = argv[++i];
-      int64_t tmpEpoch;
-      if (strchr(tmp, ':') && strchr(tmp, '-')) {
-        if (TSDB_CODE_SUCCESS != taosParseTime(
+      if (argv[i+1]) {
+        char *tmp = argv[++i];
+        int64_t tmpEpoch;
+        if (strchr(tmp, ':') && strchr(tmp, '-')) {
+          if (TSDB_CODE_SUCCESS != taosParseTime(
                     tmp, &tmpEpoch, strlen(tmp), TSDB_TIME_PRECISION_MILLI, 0)) {
-          fprintf(stderr, "Input end time error!\n");
-          return;
+            fprintf(stderr, "Input end time error!\n");
+            return;
+          }
+        } else {
+          tmpEpoch = atoll(tmp);
         }
-      } else {
-        tmpEpoch = atoll(tmp);
-      }
 
-      sprintf(argv[i], "%"PRId64"", tmpEpoch);
-      debugPrint("%s() LN%d, tmp is: %s, argv[%d]: %s\n",
+        sprintf(argv[i], "%"PRId64"", tmpEpoch);
+        debugPrint("%s() LN%d, tmp is: %s, argv[%d]: %s\n",
              __func__, __LINE__, tmp, i, argv[i]);
-
+      } else {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Input end time error!\n");
+        return;
+      }
     } else if (strcmp(argv[i], "-g") == 0) {
       arguments->debug_print = true;
     }