diff --git a/cmd/headscale/cli/nodes.go b/cmd/headscale/cli/nodes.go
index 8b4ab1ed..7d2cb677 100644
--- a/cmd/headscale/cli/nodes.go
+++ b/cmd/headscale/cli/nodes.go
@@ -220,10 +220,6 @@ var listNodeRoutesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			)
 		}
 
-		if output != "" {
-			SuccessOutput(response.GetNodes(), "", output)
-		}
-
 		nodes := response.GetNodes()
 		if identifier != 0 {
 			for _, node := range response.GetNodes() {
@@ -238,6 +234,11 @@ var listNodeRoutesCmd = &cobra.Command{
 			return (n.GetSubnetRoutes() != nil && len(n.GetSubnetRoutes()) > 0) || (n.GetApprovedRoutes() != nil && len(n.GetApprovedRoutes()) > 0) || (n.GetAvailableRoutes() != nil && len(n.GetAvailableRoutes()) > 0)
 		})
 
+		if output != "" {
+			SuccessOutput(nodes, "", output)
+			return
+		}
+
 		tableData, err := nodeRoutesToPtables(nodes)
 		if err != nil {
 			ErrorOutput(err, fmt.Sprintf("Error converting to table: %s", err), output)