diff --git a/internal/cli/apis.go b/internal/cli/apis.go
index 46d3f788e..ad7b282c1 100644
--- a/internal/cli/apis.go
+++ b/internal/cli/apis.go
@@ -311,11 +311,13 @@ auth0 apis delete <id>`,
 			}
 
 			return ansi.Spinner("Deleting API", func() error {
-				err := cli.api.ResourceServer.Delete(url.PathEscape(inputs.ID))
+				_, err := cli.api.ResourceServer.Read(url.PathEscape(inputs.ID))
+
 				if err != nil {
-					return fmt.Errorf("An unexpected error occurred while attempting to delete an API with Id '%s': %w", inputs.ID, err)
+					return fmt.Errorf("Unable to delete API. The specified Id: %v doesn't exist", inputs.ID)
 				}
-				return nil
+
+				return cli.api.ResourceServer.Delete(url.PathEscape(inputs.ID))
 			})
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/internal/cli/apps.go b/internal/cli/apps.go
index 746e1cde7..412e1d6e0 100644
--- a/internal/cli/apps.go
+++ b/internal/cli/apps.go
@@ -284,7 +284,13 @@ auth0 apps delete <id>`,
 				}
 			}
 
-			return ansi.Spinner("Deleting application", func() error {
+			return ansi.Spinner("Deleting Application", func() error {
+				_, err := cli.api.Client.Read(inputs.ID)
+
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("Unable to delete application. The specified Id: %v doesn't exist", inputs.ID)
+				}
+
 				return cli.api.Client.Delete(inputs.ID)
 			})
 		},
diff --git a/internal/cli/rules.go b/internal/cli/rules.go
index bb8aeaa25..eca48d0a5 100644
--- a/internal/cli/rules.go
+++ b/internal/cli/rules.go
@@ -244,15 +244,15 @@ auth0 rules delete <rule-id>`,
 				}
 			}
 
-			err := ansi.Spinner("Deleting rule", func() error {
-				return cli.api.Rule.Delete(inputs.ID)
-			})
+			return ansi.Spinner("Deleting Rule", func() error {
+				_, err := cli.api.Rule.Read(inputs.ID)
 
-			if err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+				if err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("Unable to delete application. The specified Id: %v doesn't exist", inputs.ID)
+				}
 
-			return nil
+				return cli.api.Rule.Delete(inputs.ID)
+			})
 		},
 	}