diff --git a/.pending/bugfixes/sdk/4493-Fix-validator-o b/.pending/bugfixes/sdk/4493-Fix-validator-o
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a4eb7e4e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.pending/bugfixes/sdk/4493-Fix-validator-o
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#4493 Fix validator-outstanding-rewards command. It now takes as an argument
+a validator address.
diff --git a/x/distribution/client/cli/query.go b/x/distribution/client/cli/query.go
index b1c1dd97b..281215571 100644
--- a/x/distribution/client/cli/query.go
+++ b/x/distribution/client/cli/query.go
@@ -59,20 +59,46 @@ func GetCmdQueryParams(queryRoute string, cdc *codec.Codec) *cobra.Command {
 // GetCmdQueryValidatorOutstandingRewards implements the query validator outstanding rewards command.
 func GetCmdQueryValidatorOutstandingRewards(queryRoute string, cdc *codec.Codec) *cobra.Command {
 	return &cobra.Command{
-		Use:   "validator-outstanding-rewards",
-		Args:  cobra.NoArgs,
+		Use:   "validator-outstanding-rewards [validator]",
+		Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 		Short: "Query distribution outstanding (un-withdrawn) rewards for a validator and all their delegations",
+		Long: strings.TrimSpace(
+			fmt.Sprintf(`Query distribution outstanding (un-withdrawn) rewards
+for a validator and all their delegations.
+
+Example:
+$ %s query distr validator-outstanding-rewards cosmosvaloper1lwjmdnks33xwnmfayc64ycprww49n33mtm92ne
+`,
+				version.ClientName,
+			),
+		),
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			cliCtx := context.NewCLIContext().WithCodec(cdc)
 
-			route := fmt.Sprintf("custom/%s/validator_outstanding_rewards", queryRoute)
-			res, err := cliCtx.QueryWithData(route, []byte{})
+			valAddr, err := sdk.ValAddressFromBech32(args[0])
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			params := types.NewQueryValidatorOutstandingRewardsParams(valAddr)
+			bz, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(params)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			resp, err := cliCtx.QueryWithData(
+				fmt.Sprintf("custom/%s/%s", queryRoute, types.QueryValidatorOutstandingRewards),
+				bz,
+			)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 
 			var outstandingRewards types.ValidatorOutstandingRewards
-			cdc.MustUnmarshalJSON(res, &outstandingRewards)
+			if err := cdc.UnmarshalJSON(resp, &outstandingRewards); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
 			return cliCtx.PrintOutput(outstandingRewards)
 		},
 	}