diff --git a/clients/cli/settings.c b/clients/cli/settings.c
index aa0a7ff23c..d050e24e28 100644
--- a/clients/cli/settings.c
+++ b/clients/cli/settings.c
@@ -543,13 +543,18 @@ nmc_setting_set_property (NMClient *client,
 	g_return_val_if_fail (NM_IS_SETTING (setting), FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (error == NULL || *error == NULL, FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (NM_IN_SET (modifier, '\0', '-', '+'), FALSE);
-	g_return_val_if_fail (value || modifier == '\0', FALSE);
 
 	if (!(property_info = nm_meta_property_info_find_by_setting (setting, prop)))
 		goto out_fail_read_only;
 	if (!property_info->property_type->set_fcn)
 		goto out_fail_read_only;
 
+	if (   NM_IN_SET (modifier, '+', '-')
+	    && !value) {
+		/* nothing to do. */
+		return TRUE;
+	}
+
 	if (   modifier == '-'
 	    && !property_info->property_type->set_supports_remove) {
 		/* The property is a plain property. It does not support '-'.