diff --git a/tools/pd-ctl/pdctl/command/config_command.go b/tools/pd-ctl/pdctl/command/config_command.go
index 6176c64d116..1b4f87436d8 100644
--- a/tools/pd-ctl/pdctl/command/config_command.go
+++ b/tools/pd-ctl/pdctl/command/config_command.go
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
-	sc "github.com/tikv/pd/pkg/schedule/config"
 	"github.com/tikv/pd/pkg/schedule/placement"
 	"github.com/tikv/pd/pkg/utils/apiutil"
 	"github.com/tikv/pd/pkg/utils/reflectutil"
@@ -374,13 +373,10 @@ func postConfigDataWithPath(cmd *cobra.Command, key, value, path string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		val = value
 	}
-	data[key] = val
 	if key == "max-replicas" {
-		replica, err := strconv.ParseInt(value, 10, 64)
-		if err == nil && replica < sc.DefaultMaxReplicas {
-			cmd.Println("Setting max-replica to less than 3 may be a mistake and carries high risk. Please confirm the setting.")
-		}
+		checkMaxReplicas(cmd, val)
 	}
+	data[key] = val
 	reqData, err := json.Marshal(data)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -393,6 +389,30 @@ func postConfigDataWithPath(cmd *cobra.Command, key, value, path string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func checkMaxReplicas(cmd *cobra.Command, value any) {
+	newReplica, ok := value.(float64)
+	if !ok {
+		// If the type is not float64, it will be handled elsewhere
+		return
+	}
+	header := buildHeader(cmd)
+	r, err := doRequest(cmd, replicatePrefix, http.MethodGet, header)
+	if err != nil {
+		cmd.Printf("Failed to get config when checking config: %s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	oldConfig := make(map[string]any)
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(r), &oldConfig)
+	if err != nil {
+		cmd.Printf("Failed to unmarshal config when checking config: %s\n", err)
+		return
+	}
+	oldReplica, ok := oldConfig["max-replicas"].(float64)
+	if ok && newReplica < oldReplica {
+		cmd.Printf("Setting max-replica to %v which is less than the current replicas (%v). This may pose a risk. Please confirm the setting.\n", newReplica, oldReplica)
+	}
+}
+
 func setConfigCommandFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	if len(args) != 2 {
 		cmd.Println(cmd.UsageString())
diff --git a/tools/pd-ctl/tests/config/config_test.go b/tools/pd-ctl/tests/config/config_test.go
index f0b02620fdd..b5123b1d785 100644
--- a/tools/pd-ctl/tests/config/config_test.go
+++ b/tools/pd-ctl/tests/config/config_test.go
@@ -1136,7 +1136,7 @@ func (suite *configTestSuite) checkUpdateDefaultReplicaConfig(cluster *pdTests.T
 	output, err := tests.ExecuteCommand(cmd, "-u", pdAddr, "config", "set", "max-replicas", "2")
 	re.NoError(err)
 	re.Contains(string(output), "Success!")
-	re.Contains(string(output), "Setting max-replica to less than 3 may be a mistake and carries high risk. Please confirm the setting.")
+	re.Contains(string(output), "which is less than the current replicas")
 	checkMaxReplicas(2)
 	output, err = tests.ExecuteCommand(cmd, "-u", pdAddr, "config", "set", "location-labels", "zone,host")
 	re.NoError(err)
@@ -1157,7 +1157,7 @@ func (suite *configTestSuite) checkUpdateDefaultReplicaConfig(cluster *pdTests.T
 	output, err = tests.ExecuteCommand(cmd, "-u", pdAddr, "config", "set", "max-replicas", "3")
 	re.NoError(err)
 	re.Contains(string(output), "Success!")
-	re.NotContains(string(output), "Setting max-replica to less than 3 may be a mistake and carries high risk. Please confirm the setting.")
+	re.NotContains(string(output), "which is less than the current replicas")
 	checkMaxReplicas(3)
 	checkRuleCount(3)