diff --git a/client/keys.go b/client/keys.go
index 769bafd2..22810e67 100644
--- a/client/keys.go
+++ b/client/keys.go
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ func KeyCommands() *cobra.Command {
 	// update the default signing algorithm value to "eth_secp256k1"
 	algoFlag := addCmd.Flag("algo")
 	algoFlag.DefValue = string(crypto.EthSecp256k1)
+	err := algoFlag.Value.Set(string(crypto.EthSecp256k1))
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
 	addCmd.RunE = runAddCmd
 
 	cmd.AddCommand(
diff --git a/docs/quickstart/run_node.md b/docs/quickstart/run_node.md
index 1017eccd..111511e2 100644
--- a/docs/quickstart/run_node.md
+++ b/docs/quickstart/run_node.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ ethermintd start
 To run a node with the same key every time: replace `ethermintcli keys add $KEY` in `./init.sh` with:
 
 ```bash
-echo "your mnemonic here" | ethermintcli keys add $KEY --recover --algo "eth_secp256k1"
+echo "your mnemonic here" | ethermintcli keys add $KEY --recover
 ```
 
 ::: tip Ethermint currently only supports 24 word mnemonics.
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ echo "your mnemonic here" | ethermintcli keys add $KEY --recover --algo "eth_sec
 You can generate a new key/mnemonic with:
 
 ```bash
-ethermintcli keys add $KEY --algo "eth_secp256k1"
+ethermintcli keys add $KEY
 ```
 
 To export your ethermint key as an ethereum private key (for use with Metamask for example):
diff --git a/docs/quickstart/testnet.md b/docs/quickstart/testnet.md
index 1f13043a..100c9e1c 100644
--- a/docs/quickstart/testnet.md
+++ b/docs/quickstart/testnet.md
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ minimum-gas-prices = ""
 
 ```bash
 # Create a key to hold your account
-ethermintcli keys add $KEY --algo "eth_secp256k1"
+ethermintcli keys add $KEY
 
 # Add that key into the genesis.app_state.accounts array in the genesis file
 # NOTE: this command lets you set the number of coins. Make sure this account has some coins
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ Now that accounts exists, you may create new accounts and send those accounts
 funds!
 
 ::: tip
-**Note**: Each node's seed is located at `./build/nodeN/ethermintcli/key_seed.json` and can be restored to the CLI using the `ethermintcli keys add --restore --algo "eth_secp256k1"` command
+**Note**: Each node's seed is located at `./build/nodeN/ethermintcli/key_seed.json` and can be restored to the CLI using the `ethermintcli keys add --restore` command
 :::
 
 ### Special Binaries
diff --git a/init.sh b/init.sh
index eab16a30..320f3b61 100755
--- a/init.sh
+++ b/init.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ ethermintcli config indent true
 ethermintcli config trust-node true
 
 # if $KEY exists it should be deleted
-ethermintcli keys add $KEY --algo "eth_secp256k1"
+ethermintcli keys add $KEY
 
 # Set moniker and chain-id for Ethermint (Moniker can be anything, chain-id must be an integer)
 ethermintd init $MONIKER --chain-id $CHAINID
diff --git a/scripts/integration-test-all.sh b/scripts/integration-test-all.sh
index 0ac3a7dc..c5452229 100755
--- a/scripts/integration-test-all.sh
+++ b/scripts/integration-test-all.sh
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ arrcli=()
 init_func() {
   echo "create and add new keys"
   "$PWD"/build/ethermintcli config keyring-backend test --home "$DATA_CLI_DIR$i"
-  "$PWD"/build/ethermintcli keys add $KEY"$i" --home "$DATA_CLI_DIR$i" --no-backup --chain-id $CHAINID --algo "eth_secp256k1"
+  "$PWD"/build/ethermintcli keys add $KEY"$i" --home "$DATA_CLI_DIR$i" --no-backup --chain-id $CHAINID
   echo "init Ethermint with moniker=$MONIKER and chain-id=$CHAINID"
   "$PWD"/build/ethermintd init $MONIKER --chain-id $CHAINID --home "$DATA_DIR$i"
   echo "init ethermintcli with chain-id=$CHAINID and config it trust-node true"