diff --git a/grib_processor/main.py b/grib_processor/main.py
index ea7dfad8fd2472b189ad9feb2c6b27b8ef2c28af..534592f41faee3b2a0ee8c86709db11df6a44779 100644
--- a/grib_processor/main.py
+++ b/grib_processor/main.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def setup() -> tuple[Iterable[GribPayload], Callable[[GribPayload], None]]:
         "-o",
         "--output",
         choices=["amqp", "json"],
-        default="amqp",
+        default="json",
         help="Where to output processed grib messages to. Default is %(default)s.",
     )