diff --git a/cmd/tailscale/cli/version.go b/cmd/tailscale/cli/version.go
index 813b6731e..f34671486 100644
--- a/cmd/tailscale/cli/version.go
+++ b/cmd/tailscale/cli/version.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ var versionCmd = &ffcli.Command{
 	ShortHelp:  "Print Tailscale version",
 	FlagSet: (func() *flag.FlagSet {
 		fs := flag.NewFlagSet("version", flag.ExitOnError)
-		fs.BoolVar(&versionArgs.daemon, "daemon", true, "also print local node's daemon version")
+		fs.BoolVar(&versionArgs.daemon, "daemon", false, "also print local node's daemon version")
 		return fs
 	})(),
 	Exec: runVersion,