diff --git a/cli/src/main/scala/coursier/cli/Coursier.scala b/cli/src/main/scala/coursier/cli/Coursier.scala
index e983a621f..18a9b8199 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/scala/coursier/cli/Coursier.scala
+++ b/cli/src/main/scala/coursier/cli/Coursier.scala
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ case class Coursier(
       var files0 = cache
         .files()
         .copy(logger = logger)
-      for (n <- parallel)
+      for (n <- parallel if n > 0)
         files0 = files0.copy(concurrentDownloadCount = n)
       files0
     }