diff --git a/src/caoscrawler/crawl.py b/src/caoscrawler/crawl.py
index d2758baaead7713aa9fedb8b9ad96163405cdf39..0704cee918f771bb01ec624b01aa529821a29edc 100644
--- a/src/caoscrawler/crawl.py
+++ b/src/caoscrawler/crawl.py
@@ -1117,6 +1117,7 @@ def parse_args():
                         help="The subtree of files below the given path will "
                         "be considered. Use '/' for everything.")
     parser.add_argument("-s", "--security-mode", choices=["retrieve", "insert", "update"],
+                        default="retrieve",
                         help="Determines whether entities may only be read from the server, or "
                         "whether inserts or even updates may be done.")
     parser.add_argument("-n", "--dry-run", action="store_true",