diff --git a/packages/imperative/src/utilities/__tests__/CliUtils.unit.test.ts b/packages/imperative/src/utilities/__tests__/CliUtils.unit.test.ts
index 6d3bd5094d..98dcfdfcd3 100644
--- a/packages/imperative/src/utilities/__tests__/CliUtils.unit.test.ts
+++ b/packages/imperative/src/utilities/__tests__/CliUtils.unit.test.ts
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ describe("CliUtils", () => {
         let responseErrText: string = notSetYet;
 
         // create a fake set of command handler parameters
-        const handlerParms: any = {
+        let handlerParms: any = {
             definition: {
                 deprecatedReplacement: "Something must be better"
             },
@@ -234,6 +234,13 @@ describe("CliUtils", () => {
             CliUtils.showMsgWhenDeprecated(handlerParms);
             expect(responseErrText).toEqual(notSetYet);
         });
+
+        it("should produce alternative text when deprecatedReplacement is an empty string", () => {
+            responseErrText = notSetYet;
+            handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement = "";
+            CliUtils.showMsgWhenDeprecated(handlerParms);
+            expect(responseErrText).toContain("Obsolete component. No replacement exists");
+        });
     });
 
     describe("buildBaseArgs", () => {
diff --git a/packages/imperative/src/utilities/src/CliUtils.ts b/packages/imperative/src/utilities/src/CliUtils.ts
index 8082613889..1d6d7a696e 100644
--- a/packages/imperative/src/utilities/src/CliUtils.ts
+++ b/packages/imperative/src/utilities/src/CliUtils.ts
@@ -377,20 +377,26 @@ export class CliUtils {
      * @memberof CliUtils
      */
     public static showMsgWhenDeprecated(handlerParms: IHandlerParameters) {
-        if (handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement) {
+        let oldCmd: string | number;
+        if (handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement || handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement === "") {
             // form the command that is deprecated
-            let oldCmd: string | number;
-            if (handlerParms.positionals.length >= 1) {
-                oldCmd = handlerParms.positionals[0];
+            if(handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement === "")
+            {
+                handlerParms.response.console.error("\nObsolete component. No replacement exists");
             }
-            if (handlerParms.positionals.length >= 2) {
-                oldCmd = oldCmd + " " + handlerParms.positionals[1];
-            }
-
-            // display the message
+            else
+            {
+                if (handlerParms.positionals.length >= 1) {
+                    oldCmd = handlerParms.positionals[0];
+                }
+                if (handlerParms.positionals.length >= 2) {
+                    oldCmd = oldCmd + " " + handlerParms.positionals[1];
+                }
+                            // display the message
             handlerParms.response.console.error("\nWarning: The command '" + oldCmd + "' is deprecated.");
             handlerParms.response.console.error("Recommended replacement: " +
                 handlerParms.definition.deprecatedReplacement);
+            }
         }
     }