diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 79e806eed..3e4321aea 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@
 - Add support for konnect AU region.
   [#1082](https://github.com/Kong/deck/pull/1082)
 
+### Fixes
+
+- Resolved an issue in the `deck file validate` and `deck gateway validate` commands that prevented them from properly processing the provided file arguments.
+  [#1084](https://github.com/Kong/deck/pull/1084)
+
+
 ## [v1.28.1]
 
 > Release date: 2023/11/02
diff --git a/cmd/gateway_validate.go b/cmd/gateway_validate.go
index fa2f67c46..855765a79 100644
--- a/cmd/gateway_validate.go
+++ b/cmd/gateway_validate.go
@@ -84,13 +84,7 @@ and alerts if there are broken relationships, or missing links present.
 `
 	execute := executeValidate
 	argsValidator := cobra.MinimumNArgs(0)
-	preRun := func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
-		diffCmdKongStateFile = args
-		if len(diffCmdKongStateFile) == 0 {
-			diffCmdKongStateFile = []string{"-"}
-		}
-		return preRunSilenceEventsFlag()
-	}
+	var preRun func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error
 
 	if deprecated {
 		use = "validate"
@@ -118,7 +112,15 @@ this command unless --online flag is used.
 			return preRunSilenceEventsFlag()
 		}
 	} else {
-		validateOnline = online
+		preRun = func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			validateOnline = online
+			validateCmdKongStateFile = args
+			if len(validateCmdKongStateFile) == 0 {
+				validateCmdKongStateFile = []string{"-"}
+			}
+			return preRunSilenceEventsFlag()
+		}
+
 		if validateOnline {
 			short = short + " (online)"
 			long = long + "Validates against the Kong API, via communication with Kong. This increases the\n" +