diff --git a/qfieldcloud_sdk/cli.py b/qfieldcloud_sdk/cli.py
index 388e45e..ce4ffc6 100755
--- a/qfieldcloud_sdk/cli.py
+++ b/qfieldcloud_sdk/cli.py
@@ -133,7 +133,9 @@ def cli(
     ctx.obj["format_json"] = format_json
 
     if username or password:
-        ctx.obj["client"].login(username, password)
+        # Guard against parent 'pre-login' for login subcommand
+        if ctx.invoked_subcommand != "login":
+            ctx.obj["client"].login(username, password)
 
 
 @cli.command()