diff --git a/poky/scripts/wic b/poky/scripts/wic
index ea61410..24700f3 100755
--- a/poky/scripts/wic
+++ b/poky/scripts/wic
@@ -392,9 +392,9 @@
 
 def wic_init_parser_cp(subparser):
     subparser.add_argument("src",
-                        help="source spec")
-    subparser.add_argument("dest", type=imgpathtype,
-                        help="image spec: <image>:<vfat partition>[<path>]")
+                        help="image spec: <image>:<vfat partition>[<path>] or <file>")
+    subparser.add_argument("dest",
+                        help="image spec: <image>:<vfat partition>[<path>] or <file>")
     subparser.add_argument("-n", "--native-sysroot",
                         help="path to the native sysroot containing the tools")
 
@@ -522,6 +522,16 @@
                 hlpt[0](hlpt[1], hlpt[2])
             return 0
 
+    # validate wic cp src and dest parameter to identify which one of it is
+    # image and cast it into imgtype
+    if args.command == "cp":
+        if ":" in args.dest:
+            args.dest = imgtype(args.dest)
+        elif ":" in args.src:
+            args.src = imgtype(args.src)
+        else:
+            raise argparse.ArgumentTypeError("no image or partition number specified.")
+
     return hlp.invoke_subcommand(args, parser, hlp.wic_help_usage, subcommands)