diff --git a/cmd/evaluate_all_command.go b/cmd/evaluate_all_command.go
index 68c9a14d..44801f69 100644
--- a/cmd/evaluate_all_command.go
+++ b/cmd/evaluate_all_command.go
@@ -42,14 +42,21 @@ func evaluateAll(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		colorsEnabled = true
 	}
 
-	if writeInplace && len(args) < 2 {
+	firstFileIndex := -1
+	if !nullInput && len(args) == 1 {
+		firstFileIndex = 0
+	} else if len(args) > 1 {
+		firstFileIndex = 1
+	}
+
+	if writeInplace && (firstFileIndex == -1) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Write inplace flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
 	}
 
 	if writeInplace {
 		// only use colors if its forced
 		colorsEnabled = forceColor
-		writeInPlaceHandler := yqlib.NewWriteInPlaceHandler(args[1])
+		writeInPlaceHandler := yqlib.NewWriteInPlaceHandler(args[firstFileIndex])
 		out, err = writeInPlaceHandler.CreateTempFile()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/cmd/evalute_sequence_command.go b/cmd/evalute_sequence_command.go
index 54ce2eb1..7f17df26 100644
--- a/cmd/evalute_sequence_command.go
+++ b/cmd/evalute_sequence_command.go
@@ -62,14 +62,21 @@ func evaluateSequence(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		colorsEnabled = true
 	}
 
-	if writeInplace && len(args) < 2 {
+	firstFileIndex := -1
+	if !nullInput && len(args) == 1 {
+		firstFileIndex = 0
+	} else if len(args) > 1 {
+		firstFileIndex = 1
+	}
+
+	if writeInplace && (firstFileIndex == -1) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Write inplace flag only applicable when giving an expression and at least one file")
 	}
 
 	if writeInplace {
 		// only use colors if its forced
 		colorsEnabled = forceColor
-		writeInPlaceHandler := yqlib.NewWriteInPlaceHandler(args[1])
+		writeInPlaceHandler := yqlib.NewWriteInPlaceHandler(args[firstFileIndex])
 		out, err = writeInPlaceHandler.CreateTempFile()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err