diff --git a/internal/cli/monit_query.go b/internal/cli/monit_query.go
index e12769b..adcbfb4 100644
--- a/internal/cli/monit_query.go
+++ b/internal/cli/monit_query.go
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ func newMonitQueryRowsCmd() *cobra.Command {
 			if err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("invalid --args: %w", err)
 			}
+			if dsType == "victorialogs" && argsMap["victorialogs.type"] == "raw" &&
+				(argsMap["victorialogs.start"] == "" || argsMap["victorialogs.end"] == "") {
+				return fmt.Errorf("victorialogs raw mode requires --args victorialogs.start=<unix> --args victorialogs.end=<unix>")
+			}
 
 			return runCommand(cmd, args, func(ctx *RunContext) error {
 				input := &flashduty.QueryRowsRequest{
diff --git a/internal/cli/monit_query_test.go b/internal/cli/monit_query_test.go
index 70c56c2..0fd6ce5 100644
--- a/internal/cli/monit_query_test.go
+++ b/internal/cli/monit_query_test.go
@@ -259,3 +259,25 @@ func TestMonitQueryRowsInvalidArgs(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("rows should not have been called: %d request(s)", stub.requests)
 	}
 }
+
+func TestMonitQueryRowsVictorialogsRawRequiresTimeRange(t *testing.T) {
+	saveAndResetGlobals(t)
+	stub := newGFStub(t)
+
+	_, err := execCommand(
+		"monit-query", "rows",
+		"--ds-type", "victorialogs",
+		"--ds-name", "vl-prod",
+		"--expr", "* | limit 2",
+		"--args", "victorialogs.type=raw",
+	)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error for victorialogs raw mode missing start/end, got nil")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "victorialogs.start") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "victorialogs.end") {
+		t.Errorf("expected error to mention victorialogs.start/end, got %q", err.Error())
+	}
+	if stub.requests != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("rows should not have been called: %d request(s)", stub.requests)
+	}
+}