diff --git a/frontends/src/jp/common.py b/frontends/src/jp/common.py
index ea060156..3c7d6570 100644
--- a/frontends/src/jp/common.py
+++ b/frontends/src/jp/common.py
@@ -433,8 +433,11 @@ class BaseEdit(object):
                 else:
                     command = 'new'
 
-        if self.args.last_item and command != 'last':
-            self.parser.error(_(u"--last-item can't be used with a specified item"))
+        if self.args.last_item:
+            if pubsub_item is None:
+                command = 'last'
+            elif command != 'last':
+                self.parser.error(_(u"--last-item can't be used with a specified item"))
 
         if not force_item and command in ('new', 'last', 'edit'):
             # we need a temporary file