diff --git a/cmd/logcli/main.go b/cmd/logcli/main.go
index f2e09a9407..599ea4502a 100644
--- a/cmd/logcli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/logcli/main.go
@@ -428,12 +428,13 @@ func newQuery(instant bool, cmd *kingpin.CmdClause) *query.Query {
 
 			q.Start = mustParse(from, defaultStart)
 			q.End = mustParse(to, defaultEnd)
-		}
-		q.Quiet = *quiet
 
-		if q.ParallelMaxWorkers < 1 {
-			return fmt.Errorf("parallel-max-workers must be greater than 0")
+			if q.ParallelMaxWorkers < 1 {
+				log.Println("parallel-max-workers must be greater than 0, defaulting to 1.")
+				q.ParallelMaxWorkers = 1
+			}
 		}
+		q.Quiet = *quiet
 
 		return nil
 	})