diff --git a/cardano-cli/src/Cardano/CLI/Shelley/Parsers.hs b/cardano-cli/src/Cardano/CLI/Shelley/Parsers.hs
index ce1fecd7bf6..890b9de354c 100644
--- a/cardano-cli/src/Cardano/CLI/Shelley/Parsers.hs
+++ b/cardano-cli/src/Cardano/CLI/Shelley/Parsers.hs
@@ -2192,7 +2192,11 @@ pProtocolVersion =
 --
 
 parseLovelace :: Atto.Parser Lovelace
-parseLovelace = Lovelace <$> Atto.decimal
+parseLovelace = do
+  i <- Atto.decimal
+  if i > toInteger (maxBound :: Word64)
+  then fail $ show i <> " lovelace exceeds the Word64 upper bound"
+  else return $ Lovelace i
 
 parseAddress :: Atto.Parser (Address Shelley)
 parseAddress = do