diff --git a/src/keri/app/cli/commands/vc/create.py b/src/keri/app/cli/commands/vc/create.py
index ac18edf1..7aaa5914 100644
--- a/src/keri/app/cli/commands/vc/create.py
+++ b/src/keri/app/cli/commands/vc/create.py
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
 parser.add_argument("--private", help="flag to indicate if this credential needs privacy preserving features",
                     action="store_true")
 parser.add_argument("--private-credential-nonce", help="nonce for vc",
-                    action="store_true")
+                    action="store")
 parser.add_argument("--private-subject-nonce", help="nonce for subject",
-                    action="store_true")
+                    action="store")
 parser.add_argument('--passcode', '-p', help='21 character encryption passcode for keystore (is not saved)',
                     dest="bran", default=None)  # passcode => bran
 parser.add_argument("--time", help="timestamp for the credential creation", required=False, default=None)