diff --git a/cli/src/stake.rs b/cli/src/stake.rs
index afbfcfcb7..e70f5e052 100644
--- a/cli/src/stake.rs
+++ b/cli/src/stake.rs
@@ -1384,7 +1384,13 @@ pub fn process_stake_authorize(
             if let Some(authorized) = authorized {
                 match authorization_type {
                     StakeAuthorize::Staker => {
-                        check_current_authority(&authorized.staker, &authority.pubkey())?;
+                        // first check authorized withdrawer
+                        check_current_authority(&authorized.withdrawer, &authority.pubkey())
+                            .or_else(|_| {
+                                // ...then check authorized staker. If neither matches, error will
+                                // print the stake key as `expected`
+                                check_current_authority(&authorized.staker, &authority.pubkey())
+                            })?;
                     }
                     StakeAuthorize::Withdrawer => {
                         check_current_authority(&authorized.withdrawer, &authority.pubkey())?;