diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
index 0aca9e00b..aecc21065 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_decode.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/storage/types"
 	"io"
@@ -39,14 +38,12 @@ func (c *commandEcDecode) Help() string {
 }
 
 func (c *commandEcDecode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Writer) (err error) {
-	encodeCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
-	volumeId := encodeCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
-	collection := encodeCommand.String("collection", "", "the collection name")
-	forceChanges := encodeCommand.Bool("force", false, "force the encoding even if the cluster has less than recommended 4 nodes")
-	if err = encodeCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
+	decodeCommand := flag.NewFlagSet(c.Name(), flag.ContinueOnError)
+	volumeId := decodeCommand.Int("volumeId", 0, "the volume id")
+	collection := decodeCommand.String("collection", "", "the collection name")
+	if err = decodeCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	infoAboutSimulationMode(writer, *forceChanges, "-force")
 
 	if err = commandEnv.confirmIsLocked(args); err != nil {
 		return
@@ -60,17 +57,6 @@ func (c *commandEcDecode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 		return err
 	}
 
-	if !*forceChanges {
-		var nodeCount int
-		eachDataNode(topologyInfo, func(dc string, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
-			nodeCount++
-		})
-		if nodeCount < erasure_coding.ParityShardsCount {
-			glog.V(0).Infof("skip erasure coding with %d nodes, less than recommended %d nodes", nodeCount, erasure_coding.ParityShardsCount)
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-
 	// volumeId is provided
 	if vid != 0 {
 		return doEcDecode(commandEnv, topologyInfo, *collection, vid)
diff --git a/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go b/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
index 9fe7ad8e4..8864265a7 100644
--- a/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
+++ b/weed/shell/command_ec_encode.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"flag"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/glog"
 	"github.com/seaweedfs/seaweedfs/weed/pb"
 	"io"
 	"math/rand"
@@ -62,6 +63,7 @@ func (c *commandEcEncode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 	fullPercentage := encodeCommand.Float64("fullPercent", 95, "the volume reaches the percentage of max volume size")
 	quietPeriod := encodeCommand.Duration("quietFor", time.Hour, "select volumes without no writes for this period")
 	parallelCopy := encodeCommand.Bool("parallelCopy", true, "copy shards in parallel")
+	forceChanges := encodeCommand.Bool("force", false, "force the encoding even if the cluster has less than recommended 4 nodes")
 	if err = encodeCommand.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -70,6 +72,23 @@ func (c *commandEcEncode) Do(args []string, commandEnv *CommandEnv, writer io.Wr
 		return
 	}
 
+	// collect topology information
+	topologyInfo, _, err := collectTopologyInfo(commandEnv, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if !*forceChanges {
+		var nodeCount int
+		eachDataNode(topologyInfo, func(dc string, rack RackId, dn *master_pb.DataNodeInfo) {
+			nodeCount++
+		})
+		if nodeCount < erasure_coding.ParityShardsCount {
+			glog.V(0).Infof("skip erasure coding with %d nodes, less than recommended %d nodes", nodeCount, erasure_coding.ParityShardsCount)
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+
 	vid := needle.VolumeId(*volumeId)
 
 	// volumeId is provided