diff --git a/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_entry.c b/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_entry.c
index 2fe2e4a..2df8314 100644
--- a/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_entry.c
+++ b/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_entry.c
@@ -375,8 +375,15 @@
     }
     else
     {
-        vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_disp_entry, bdei, 1,
-                        BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        if (pool_is_free_index(bier_disp_entry_pool, bdei))
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "No such BIER disp entry: %d", bdei);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_disp_entry, bdei, 1,
+                            BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        }
     }
     return (NULL);
 }
diff --git a/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_table.c b/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_table.c
index c663286..68edb08 100644
--- a/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_table.c
+++ b/src/vnet/bier/bier_disp_table.c
@@ -385,8 +385,15 @@
     }
     else
     {
-        vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_disp_table, bdti, 0,
-                        BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        if (pool_is_free_index(bier_disp_table_pool, bdti))
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "No such BIER disp table: %d", bdti);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_disp_table, bdti, 0,
+                            BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        }
     }
     return (NULL);
 }
diff --git a/src/vnet/bier/bier_imp.c b/src/vnet/bier/bier_imp.c
index bd934b7..0c87d17 100644
--- a/src/vnet/bier/bier_imp.c
+++ b/src/vnet/bier/bier_imp.c
@@ -275,8 +275,15 @@
     }
     else
     {
-        vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_imp, bii, 1,
-                        BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        if (pool_is_free_index(bier_imp_pool, bii))
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "No such BIER imposition: %d", bii);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            vlib_cli_output(vm, "%U", format_bier_imp, bii, 1,
+                            BIER_SHOW_DETAIL);
+        }
     }
     return (NULL);
 }