diff --git a/cmd/frostfs-cli/modules/bearer/create.go b/cmd/frostfs-cli/modules/bearer/create.go
index a05de9a7..b8511504 100644
--- a/cmd/frostfs-cli/modules/bearer/create.go
+++ b/cmd/frostfs-cli/modules/bearer/create.go
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ is set to current epoch + n.
 
 func init() {
 	createCmd.Flags().StringP(eaclFlag, "e", "", "Path to the extended ACL table (mutually exclusive with --impersonate flag)")
-	createCmd.Flags().StringP(issuedAtFlag, "i", "", "Epoch to issue token at")
-	createCmd.Flags().StringP(notValidBeforeFlag, "n", "", "Not valid before epoch")
+	createCmd.Flags().StringP(issuedAtFlag, "i", "+0", "Epoch to issue token at")
+	createCmd.Flags().StringP(notValidBeforeFlag, "n", "+0", "Not valid before epoch")
 	createCmd.Flags().StringP(commonflags.ExpireAt, "x", "", "The last active epoch for the token")
 	createCmd.Flags().StringP(ownerFlag, "o", "", "Token owner")
 	createCmd.Flags().String(outFlag, "", "File to write token to")
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ func init() {
 
 	_ = cobra.MarkFlagFilename(createCmd.Flags(), eaclFlag)
 
-	_ = cobra.MarkFlagRequired(createCmd.Flags(), issuedAtFlag)
-	_ = cobra.MarkFlagRequired(createCmd.Flags(), notValidBeforeFlag)
 	_ = cobra.MarkFlagRequired(createCmd.Flags(), commonflags.ExpireAt)
 	_ = cobra.MarkFlagRequired(createCmd.Flags(), ownerFlag)
 	_ = cobra.MarkFlagRequired(createCmd.Flags(), outFlag)
@@ -72,10 +70,14 @@ func createToken(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) {
 	commonCmd.ExitOnErr(cmd, "can't parse --"+notValidBeforeFlag+" flag: %w", err)
 
 	if iatRelative || expRelative || nvbRelative {
+		endpoint, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString(commonflags.RPC)
+		if len(endpoint) == 0 {
+			commonCmd.ExitOnErr(cmd, "can't fetch current epoch: %w", fmt.Errorf("'%s' flag value must be specified", commonflags.RPC))
+		}
+
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Second*30)
 		defer cancel()
 
-		endpoint, _ := cmd.Flags().GetString(commonflags.RPC)
 		currEpoch, err := internalclient.GetCurrentEpoch(ctx, cmd, endpoint)
 		commonCmd.ExitOnErr(cmd, "can't fetch current epoch: %w", err)