diff --git a/bin/nodetool b/bin/nodetool
index ab2210aa5..c0d5b0025 100755
--- a/bin/nodetool
+++ b/bin/nodetool
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ main(Args) ->
                     ok
             end
     end,
-    ok = add_libs_dir(),
     case Args of
         ["hocon" | Rest] ->
+            ok = add_libs_dir(),
             %% forward the call to hocon_cli
             hocon_cli:main(Rest);
         ["check_license_key", Key0] ->
+            ok = add_libs_dir(),
             Key = cleanup_key(Key0),
             check_license(#{key => Key});
         _ ->
diff --git a/changes/ce/feat-11787.en.md b/changes/ce/feat-11787.en.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2dc3efc73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/ce/feat-11787.en.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Improve `emqx` command performance.
+
+Avoid loading EMQX application code in `nodetool` script unless necessary.