diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index e5ecfee3..c10c672f 100755
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {Logger} from '@openstapps/logger';
 import * as commander from 'commander';
 import {readFileSync} from 'fs';
 import {join} from 'path';
+import { URL } from 'url';
 import {copy} from './copy';
 import {HttpClient} from './httpClient';
 
@@ -31,36 +32,53 @@ process.on('unhandledRejection', (error) => {
 });
 
 commander
-  .command('copy <from> <to>')
+  .command('copy <type> <from> <to> <batchSize>')
   .version(pkgJson.version)
   .description('Copy data from one instance to another')
   .option(
-    '-s, --bulkSource [bulkSource]',
+    '-s, --bulkSource <bulkSource>',
     'The source identifier for the bulk to use with the target instance [copy]',
     'copy',
   )
-  .option('-t, --type <type>', 'The type to request from the source instance')
   // TODO: remove
-  .option('-a, --appVersion [version]', 'The App version to use [unset by default]')
-  .option('-b, --batchSize <amount>', 'Number of items per batch')
+  .option('-a, --appVersion <version>', 'The App version to use [unset by default]')
   .allowUnknownOption(false)
-  .action((from, to, copyCommand) => {
-    actionDone = true;
+  .action((type, from, to, batchSize, copyCommand) => {
 
-    if (typeof copyCommand.type === 'undefined') {
-      logger.error('<type> argument is required');
+    // validate type
+    if (typeof type !== 'string') {
+      logger.error('expected parameter "type" to be of type: string');
       copyCommand.outputHelp();
       process.exit(-1);
     }
 
-    logger.info('Copying ' + copyCommand.type + ' objects from ' + from + ' to ' + to);
+    // validate urls
+    try {
+      from = (new URL(from)).toString();
+      to = (new URL(to)).toString();
+    } catch (err) {
+      logger.error('expected parameters "from" and "to" to be valid urls', err);
+      copyCommand.outputHelp();
+      process.exit(-1);
+    }
+
+    // validate batchSize
+    if (isNaN(parseInt(batchSize, 10))) {
+      logger.error('expected parameter "batchSize" to be of type: number');
+      copyCommand.outputHelp();
+      process.exit(-1);
+    }
+
+    actionDone = true;
+
+    logger.info('Copying ' + type + ' objects from ' + from + ' to ' + to);
 
     copy(client, {
-      batchSize: parseInt(copyCommand.batchSize, 10),
+      batchSize: parseInt(batchSize, 10),
       from: from,
       source: copyCommand.bulkSource,
       to: to,
-      type: copyCommand.type,
+      type: type,
       version: copyCommand.appVersion,
     }).then(() => {
       logger.ok('Done');