diff --git a/cecli/main.py b/cecli/main.py
index 371af61fc81..c0fcb5c79b2 100644
--- a/cecli/main.py
+++ b/cecli/main.py
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ def get_io(pretty):
     output_queue = None
     input_queue = None
     pre_init_io = get_io(args.pretty)
-    if args.tui or args.linear_output is None:
+    if args.tui is not False and args.linear_output is None:
         try:
             from cecli.tui import create_tui_io