diff --git a/data_validation/__main__.py b/data_validation/__main__.py
index fc5266d68..446638f54 100644
--- a/data_validation/__main__.py
+++ b/data_validation/__main__.py
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ def build_config_managers_from_args(args):
     target_client = clients.get_data_client(target_conn)
 
     threshold = args.threshold if args.threshold else 0.0
+    format = args.format if args.format else "table"
 
     is_filesystem = True if source_conn["source_type"] == "FileSystem" else False
     tables_list = cli_tools.get_tables_list(
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ def build_config_managers_from_args(args):
             table_obj,
             labels,
             threshold,
-            format=args.format,
+            format,
             result_handler_config=result_handler_config,
             filter_config=filter_config,
             verbose=args.verbose,
diff --git a/tests/unit/result_handlers/test_text.py b/tests/unit/result_handlers/test_text.py
index 2a81fa42e..b3a40113e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/result_handlers/test_text.py
+++ b/tests/unit/result_handlers/test_text.py
@@ -43,3 +43,13 @@ def test_basic_result_handler(module_under_test):
 
     handler_output = result_handler.execute(SAMPLE_CONFIG, result_df)
     assert handler_output["count"].sum() == result_df["count"].sum()
+
+
+def test_unsupported_result_format(module_under_test):
+    """Check for invalid format"""
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        result_df = DataFrame(SAMPLE_RESULT_DATA)
+        result_handler = module_under_test.TextResultHandler(format="foobar")
+
+        handler_output = result_handler.execute(SAMPLE_CONFIG, result_df)
+        assert handler_output["count"].sum() == result_df["count"].sum()