diff --git a/docs/cli/join-testnet.md b/docs/cli/join-testnet.md
index a0ded2f5..19c088a9 100644
--- a/docs/cli/join-testnet.md
+++ b/docs/cli/join-testnet.md
@@ -69,13 +69,20 @@ modal node run-miner --dir ./my-node --no-tui
 modal node run-hybrid --dir ./my-node --no-tui
 ```
 
-Ping a bootstrapper from a **second** node directory (same-dir ping opens the
-live datastore):
+Ping a bootstrapper from a **second** node directory. Create it first; `ping`
+requires `config.json` in that directory. Copy a complete bootstrapper multiaddr
+(including its peer ID) from `modal net info testnet`. Keep the target quoted in
+the shell:
 
 ```bash
-modal node ping --dir ./ping-node --target /dns4/node1.testnet.modality.network/tcp/4040/ws/p2p/<peer-id>
+modal node create --dir ./ping-node --testnet
+modal net info testnet
+modal node ping --dir ./ping-node --target '<bootstrapper-multiaddr>'
 ```
 
+The ping client uses temporary storage, but using a separate directory keeps
+it independent of the running miner.
+
 ## Post a contract
 
 After sequencers are running (hybrid nominates sequencers from mining epoch
diff --git a/docs/cli/mining-testnet.md b/docs/cli/mining-testnet.md
index a33289d6..04471c9d 100644
--- a/docs/cli/mining-testnet.md
+++ b/docs/cli/mining-testnet.md
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ this node should also run a sequencer. Do not use a Foundation node template as
 an independent operator identity.
 
 From a **second** node directory, ping a bootstrapper using its full address
-from `modal net info testnet` (including `/p2p/<peer-id>`):
+from `modal net info testnet` (including its `/p2p/` peer ID). Create the
+second directory first because `ping` needs its `config.json`:
 
 ```bash
+modal node create --dir ./ping-node --testnet
+modal net info testnet
 modal node ping --dir ./ping-node --target '<bootstrapper-multiaddr>'
 ```
 
diff --git a/docs/cli/node-commands.md b/docs/cli/node-commands.md
index 3b62ece6..8d13d4cd 100644
--- a/docs/cli/node-commands.md
+++ b/docs/cli/node-commands.md
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ Ping a remote Modality node.
 | Option | Description |
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--target <MULTIADDR>` | Peer multiaddr to ping |
-| `--times <COUNT>` | Number of ping attempts; defaults to `1` |
+| `--times <COUNT>` | Positive number of ping attempts; defaults to `1` |
 | `--config <CONFIG>` | Path to `config.json` |
 | `--dir <DIR>` | Node directory containing `config.json` |
 
diff --git a/rust/modality-cli-node/src/ping.rs b/rust/modality-cli-node/src/ping.rs
index ee8049d1..3460b4f2 100644
--- a/rust/modality-cli-node/src/ping.rs
+++ b/rust/modality-cli-node/src/ping.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use anyhow::Result;
 use clap::Parser;
+use std::num::NonZeroU32;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 
 use modality_node::actions;
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ pub struct Opts {
     target: String,
 
     #[clap(long, default_value = "1")]
-    times: u32,
+    times: NonZeroU32,
 }
 
 pub async fn run(opts: &Opts) -> Result<()> {
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ pub async fn run(opts: &Opts) -> Result<()> {
     let mut client = ephemeral_client::open(opts.config.clone(), opts.dir.clone()).await?;
     log::info!("Pinging from node: {:?}", client.node.peerid);
     let target = opts.target.clone();
-    let times_to_ping = opts.times;
+    let times_to_ping = opts.times.get();
     let start = Instant::now();
     let random_hex = generate_random_hex_string();
 
@@ -79,3 +80,20 @@ fn generate_random_hex_string() -> String {
         .map(|b| format!("{:02x}", b))
         .collect::<String>()
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ping_count_must_be_positive() {
+        assert!(Opts::try_parse_from(["ping", "--target", "peer", "--times", "0"]).is_err());
+        assert_eq!(
+            Opts::try_parse_from(["ping", "--target", "peer", "--times", "1"])
+                .unwrap()
+                .times
+                .get(),
+            1
+        );
+    }
+}