diff --git a/README.extra.md b/README.extra.md
index 7807c9e..12e678b 100644
--- a/README.extra.md
+++ b/README.extra.md
@@ -303,6 +303,8 @@ This subcommand shows the LP image metadata, including all metadata slots. If th
 
 ## `avbroot payload`
 
+This set of commands is for working with payload binary files (`payload.bin`). The `unpack` and `pack` commands can only work with full payloads because they require the complete data to be available, but the `repack` and `info` commands also work with delta payloads.
+
 ### Unpacking a payload binary
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/avbroot/src/cli/payload.rs b/avbroot/src/cli/payload.rs
index 73d1bb7..eb44804 100644
--- a/avbroot/src/cli/payload.rs
+++ b/avbroot/src/cli/payload.rs
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ use crate::{
     stream::{self, FromReader, PSeekFile},
 };
 
-fn open_reader(path: &Path) -> Result<(BufReader<File>, PayloadHeader)> {
+fn open_reader(path: &Path, allow_delta: bool) -> Result<(BufReader<File>, PayloadHeader)> {
     let mut reader = File::open(path)
         .map(BufReader::new)
         .with_context(|| format!("Failed to open payload for reading: {path:?}"))?;
     let header = PayloadHeader::from_reader(&mut reader)
         .with_context(|| format!("Failed to read payload header: {path:?}"))?;
-    if !header.is_full_ota() {
+    if !allow_delta && !header.is_full_ota() {
         bail!("Payload is a delta OTA, not a full OTA");
     }
 
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ fn unpack_subcommand(
     cli: &UnpackCli,
     cancel_signal: &AtomicBool,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let (mut reader, header) = open_reader(&cli.input)?;
+    let (mut reader, header) = open_reader(&cli.input, false)?;
     let payload_size = reader
         .seek(SeekFrom::End(0))
         .with_context(|| format!("Failed to get file size: {:?}", cli.input))?;
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ fn repack_subcommand(
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let signing_key = load_key(&cli.key)?;
 
-    let (mut reader, header) = open_reader(&cli.input)?;
+    let (mut reader, header) = open_reader(&cli.input, true)?;
 
     info!("Generating new OTA payload");
 
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ fn repack_subcommand(
 }
 
 fn info_subcommand(payload_cli: &PayloadCli, cli: &InfoCli) -> Result<()> {
-    let (_, header) = open_reader(&cli.input)?;
+    let (_, header) = open_reader(&cli.input, true)?;
 
     display_header(payload_cli, &header);