diff --git a/lib/core/common.py b/lib/core/common.py
index fb7baf144..d9e7dda98 100644
--- a/lib/core/common.py
+++ b/lib/core/common.py
@@ -1058,8 +1058,11 @@ def parseTargetDirect():
                 conf.dbmsUser = details.group('user')
                 conf.dbmsPass = details.group('pass')
             else:
-                conf.dbmsUser = unicode()
-                conf.dbmsPass = unicode()
+                if conf.dbmsCred:
+                    conf.dbmsUser, conf.dbmsPass = conf.dbmsCred.split(':')
+                else:
+                    conf.dbmsUser = unicode()
+                    conf.dbmsPass = unicode()
 
             if not conf.dbmsPass:
                 conf.dbmsPass = None
diff --git a/lib/core/option.py b/lib/core/option.py
index e16728965..ed31a02ff 100644
--- a/lib/core/option.py
+++ b/lib/core/option.py
@@ -2109,6 +2109,11 @@ def _basicOptionValidation():
             errMsg += "(e.g. 1-10) or integer value (e.g. 5)"
             raise SqlmapSyntaxException(errMsg)
 
+    if conf.dbmsCred and ':' not in conf.dbmsCred:
+        errMsg = "value for option '--dbms-cred' must be in "
+        errMsg += "format <username>:<password> (e.g. \"root:pass\")"
+        raise SqlmapSyntaxException(errMsg)
+
     if conf.charset:
         _ = checkCharEncoding(conf.charset, False)
         if _ is None: