diff --git a/command/issue.go b/command/issue.go
index d576c98d0..8427ee9e7 100644
--- a/command/issue.go
+++ b/command/issue.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func init() {
 	issueCmd.AddCommand(issueListCmd)
 	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("assignee", "a", "", "Filter by assignee")
 	issueListCmd.Flags().StringSliceP("label", "l", nil, "Filter by label")
-	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("state", "s", "", "Filter by state: {open|closed|all}")
+	issueListCmd.Flags().StringP("state", "s", "open", "Filter by state: {open|closed|all}")
 	issueListCmd.Flags().IntP("limit", "L", 30, "Maximum number of issues to fetch")
 
 	issueViewCmd.Flags().BoolP("preview", "p", false, "Display preview of issue content")