diff --git a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommand.java b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommand.java
index d3362a02b..e6f82aecf 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommand.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommand.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
 import static com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet.toImmutableSet;
 import static com.google.common.collect.Sets.difference;
 import static google.registry.model.billing.BillingEvent.RenewalPriceBehavior.DEFAULT;
+import static google.registry.model.domain.token.AllocationToken.TokenType.DEFAULT_PROMO;
 import static google.registry.model.domain.token.AllocationToken.TokenType.PACKAGE;
 import static google.registry.model.domain.token.AllocationToken.TokenType.SINGLE_USE;
 import static google.registry.model.domain.token.AllocationToken.TokenType.UNLIMITED_USE;
@@ -259,6 +260,10 @@ class GenerateAllocationTokensCommand implements Command {
         !(UNLIMITED_USE.equals(tokenType) && CollectionUtils.isNullOrEmpty(tokenStatusTransitions)),
         "For UNLIMITED_USE tokens, must specify --token_status_transitions");
 
+    checkArgument(
+        !(DEFAULT_PROMO.equals(tokenType) && CollectionUtils.isNullOrEmpty(tokenStatusTransitions)),
+        "For DEFAULT_PROMO tokens, must specify --token_status_transitions");
+
     // A list consisting solely of the empty string means user error when formatting parameters
     checkArgument(
         !ImmutableList.of("").equals(allowedClientIds),
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommandTest.java b/core/src/test/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommandTest.java
index df927c922..1a95de87c 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommandTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/google/registry/tools/GenerateAllocationTokensCommandTest.java
@@ -440,6 +440,16 @@ class GenerateAllocationTokensCommandTest extends CommandTestCase<GenerateAlloca
         .isEqualTo("For UNLIMITED_USE tokens, must specify --token_status_transitions");
   }
 
+  @Test
+  void testFailure_defaultPromoMustHaveTransitions() {
+    assertThat(
+            assertThrows(
+                IllegalArgumentException.class,
+                () -> runCommand("--number", "999", "--type", "DEFAULT_PROMO")))
+        .hasMessageThat()
+        .isEqualTo("For DEFAULT_PROMO tokens, must specify --token_status_transitions");
+  }
+
   private AllocationToken createToken(
       String token,
       @Nullable HistoryEntryId redemptionHistoryEntryId,